ID? Starting 2020 off right with another Viscount!

It's always exciting to land another Viscount especially if it might be a Supabike. Looking forward to the next update. Happy New Year!

I wasn't aware that the redirect wasn't working.

I think Scott set that up. I can contact him and ask him to forward.

I must say though, that the frame numbers seem to have been encoded via an Enigma machine, as there is little or no pattern that anybody could see.

Jem

Thanks, Jem and all. I received the file but have so far not been able to open it in its present form. In light of that situation, I have no delusions about decoding the "enigma-tic" frame numbering system. I do wonder, however, if anyone has ever mentioned any relationship of the size and type of the number stamps themselves. I notice a wide difference between the size and format between my Viscounts: My classic black and silver has tiny numbers followed by tiny letters while my first mystery frame and the yet-to-arrive chrome frame have large, easily readable numbers and letters. Just wondering if that could be shown to indicate a timeframe or build location? I shouldn't be surprised though, since I've owned 5 Austro Daimlers and their numbers made no sense either.
The chrome frame is scheduled to arrive from California next Monday. As promised, I'll post a flickr link as soon as possible.
Best,
John "Wheelson" Wilson

Hey John, nice photos. Thanks for sharing! The only chrome Viscount I've ever read about is said Supabike, so I'd say that's what it is. Were you able to get any info from the seller on the bike's history? The story may help identify it more definitively.

Thanks. Some of the photos were mine, some from the seller. Not too much in the way of history, the seller is a member of the CR forum and has three bike shops in California. As I understand it, he got the Lambert / Viscount stuff from a friend who had worked in a recall center. I don't think there's much history to be uncovered, darn it. I do know that in the photo of the pile of stuff there were several frames, complete bikes (Lambert non-lugged), wheels (one set was Viscount black hubs laced to sewup (sprint) rims), and some death forks. He had previously gifted me a fork for display only, turned out to be a Type 2 with the side pin. The one on the chrome frame is the Type 3 with the steel insert visible from the underside. Type 3 is the only one I would remotely consider riding and since I want to get the experience of riding a Viscount with an original spec'd death fork, the Type 3 will stay on this bike for now anyway. I also have the black Viscount hubs that I'll build to a new pair of Birmalux sewup rims I have. As you see, several new experiences planned with this bike.

My feelings are that the black V. hubs/sewup rims came from the chrome frameset as it has the original black headset. Unless I find another Viscount that was sold as a chrome frame with at least some black components, I don't feel too guilty building it in the form of a Supabike. At least there were no "Supabike" decals, so I guess it's not deceiving.

Questions: Does anyone have a proven Supabike as pictured in the literature and does it have a Type 3 death fork? And does anyone know if the "colorless" (no red or blue) Viscount decals are available anywhere, as my seat tube decal is torn?

Thanks for all the help with Viscount 1, 2, and 3!
Best,
John "wheelson"

I'd try www.velocals.com for the all silver seat tube / head tube badges. They have the red/ blue ones but they do a lot of custom colors. It's worth a shot. Good luck!

Here's a few links.

I have one, Cusqueno has one and a member that hasn't been on here for a while called Utedeej

My frame number on Supabike is 562824


www.flickr.com/photos/21449750@N00/27401112201/in/photostream/

viscountandlambert.boards.net/thread/1587/viscount-race-bike-supabike

Well, a few more data points from the chrome Viscount frame. First, it seems many Viscounts use a 26.6mm seat post. My black and silver Aerospace does; however, my blue "unknown and modified" build uses a 26.8 as does the chrome frame. Any thoughts on this? The bottom bracket axle is black, two grooves, and looks original. It also looks like the untapered variety. How was the Supabike setup with a Dura Ace crankset and what type of b. bracket was used with that since the specs show a sealed b. bracket for the Supa? Last but not least the Supabike is listed with black Dura Ace side pull brakes and sewup (sprint) wheels. Looking at the death forks I have (type 2 and 3), even the long reach DA brakes are quite a stretch as the fork and frame appear to be built for 27 inch wheels. How was this resolved on the Supabike?
I have no illusions or delusions that this was a Supabike but some intermediate unknown chrome version. I still want to build it up with the black components anyway so I'll just have to find some workarounds. I'm just curious how Viscount resolved these items if they used a bone stock Lambert/Viscount frame?
Best,
John "wheelson"

Sounds like an excellent project. Looking forward to progress reports.

Regarding the plugs - I have rebuilt a fair number of bikes that were stored in garages and sheds. I have been surprised by how many of these bottom brackets contained seeds, nut shells, and even mouse nesting material. I assume they went in the open end of the seat post. For that reason I have thought about putting a cork in the end of older seat posts that have an open end.