Reynolds 1978 Catalog — 531, 531 SL and 753 Butted Cycle Frame Tubes, Fork Blades and Stays

— Page 1 (front cover) —
TI REYNOLDS
REYNOLDS 531,531 SL & 753
BUTTED CYCLE FRAME TUBES
FORK BLADES AND STAYS

[The yellow front cover of the TI Reynolds catalog of 531, 531 SL and 753 butted cycle frame tubes, fork blades and stays, with a white panel holding a drawing of a racing cyclist in a crouch, repeated in green, magenta, violet and black outlines as if in motion. The “TI” of the name at the top is set in outline letters beside a solid black “REYNOLDS”; no printed folio and no later marks.]

— Page 2 —
For 80 years, TI Reynolds has set standards in the production of cycle frame tubing to which all others have aspired.
As a company we have been around since 1898, though there have been a couple of name changes along the way, the latest being when Reynolds Tube Company became TI Reynolds in 1977.
Since 1928 the company has been a member of Tube Investments, and can employ all the group’s technical, engineering and financial resources to ensure continuous product development to meet customers’ changing requirements.
Bicycle builders throughout the world specify Reynolds tubing for their finest lightweight machines. Bicycles made of Reynolds 531 tubing have consistently won the world’s major cycle races, including the World Championships and the Tour de France, the most gruelling of them all.
In 1975 we introduced two completely new cycle tubes developed by Reynolds engineers for top class competitive racing–Reynolds 531SL and Reynolds 753. These are designed to complement the Reynolds 531 range, which still remains unsurpassed for the majority of applications.
The complete range of Reynolds 531, 531SL and 753 is covered in this catalogue and is easily identified in the index opposite.
The Butting Process
Butting was invented by Reynolds–the company who also made modern lightweight cycles possible with the introduction of Reynolds 531 tubing. A butted tube is a cold drawn seamless tube, thickened at each end, where the stresses are greatest, whilst the outside diameter remains constant. The thinner portion in the middle of the tube saving weight and ensuring a resilient, responsive frame.
Ordering
The standard range of components shown in this catalogue is comprehensive enough to meet the requirements of most manufacturers for their range of lightweight cycles. However, should you have a large enough requirement for a component outside our standard range, we shall be happy to discuss your requirements.
Orders placed direct with TI Reynolds are subject to a minimum order quantity. Smaller quantities may be obtained through stockists. Details of the above are available on application.
Further Information
Technical Data Sheets covering the composition, physical properties and manipulation and brazing techniques for Reynolds 531, Reynolds 531SL and Reynolds 753 will gladly be supplied on request. ‘Top Tubes’–a booklet describing the development of Reynolds’ famous cycle tubing–is also available on request from the address on the back cover of this brochure.

INDEX
Page 4
Butted frame tubes
Page 5
Butted steering columns
Page 6
Seat stays
Page 7
Chain stays
Pages 8 & 9
Taper gauge fork blades
Page 10
Reynolds 531SL
Page 11
Reynolds 753

[The introduction and index page of the TI Reynolds catalog: a short history of the company with notes on the butting process, ordering and further information, beside an index column of seven small frame diagrams, each with the tubes of its section picked out in color: green for pages 4 to 9, magenta for the Reynolds 531SL entry and violet for the Reynolds 753 entry. A small repeat of the cover’s multicolored cyclist drawing sits in the top left corner; the page carries no printed folio.]

— Page 3 —
REYNOLDS TRANSFERS

1
GUARANTEED
BUILT
WITH
REYNOLDS®
531
BUTTED
TUBES
FORKS & STAYS
TI
Manufactured by [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, England [?]

2
GARANTI
CONSTRUIT
AVEC
REYNOLDS®
531
TUBES RENFORCES
FOURREAUX DE FOURCHE [?]
ET ARRIERES
TI
fabrication [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, Angleterre [?]

3
GUARANTEED BUILT WITH
REYNOLDS
531®
FORK BLADES, STAYS &
BUTTED FRAME TUBES
TI
Manufactured by [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, England [?]

4
TI
Manufactured by [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, England [?]
531®
REYNOLDS
FORK
BLADES

5
TI
fabrication [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, Angleterre [?]
531®
REYNOLDS
FOURREAUX

6
GUARANTEED BUILT WITH
REYNOLDS
531®
BUTTED
FRAME TUBES
TI
Manufactured by [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, England [?]

7
CONSTRUIT AVEC
531®
REYNOLDS
3 TUBES RENFORCES
TI
fabrication [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, Angleterre [?]

8
GUARANTEED BUILT WITH
SPECIAL [?]
LIGHTWEIGHT [?]
REYNOLDS®
531
BUTTED
FRAME TUBES
FORK BLADES & STAYS [?]
TI
Manufactured by [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, England [?]

9
GARANTI CONSTRUIT AVEC
EXTRA LEGER [?]
REYNOLDS®
531
TUBES
RENFORCES [?]
FOURREAUX DE [?]
FOURCHE ET ARRIERES [?]
TI
fabrication [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, Angleterre [?]

10
Manufactured by [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham England [?]
REYNOLDS® [?]
531
SPECIAL LIGHTWEIGHT
FORK [?]
BLADES [?]

11
fabrication [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, Angleterre [?]
REYNOLDS
531
EXTRA LEGER [?]
FOURREAUX [?]

12
GUARANTEED BUILT WITH
REYNOLDS
753
BUTTED
FRAME TUBES
FORK BLADES & STAYS [?]
TI
Manufactured by [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, England [?]

13
GARANTI CONSTRUIT AVEC
REYNOLDS
753
TUBES
RENFORCES FOURREAUX [?]
DE FOURCHE ET ARRIERES [?]
TI
fabrication [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, Angleterre [?]

14
Manufactured by [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, England [?]
REYNOLDS
753
FORK
BLADES

15
fabrication [?]
TI REYNOLDS LIMITED
Birmingham, Angleterre [?]
REYNOLDS
753
FOURREAUX

1 &2. Probably the best known bicycle transfers in the world! A bicycle with either is a real thoroughbred, built with REYNOLDS 531 BUTTED frame tubes, BUTTED steerer, TAPER-GAUGE fork blades and plain gauge head tube and stays.

3. This is a special version of the top REYNOLDS 531 transfer, designed for a specific market.
It bears exactly the same significance as the normal English and French versions.

4 & 5. These are used only in conjunction with the three top-grade REYNOLDS 531 transfers, as appropriate.

6. The top tube, seat tube and down tube of a bicycle with this transfer are REYNOLDS 531 BUTTED tubes, with a plain gauge REYNOLDS 531 head tube. Stays and fork blades may not be of Reynolds’ manufacture.

7. The top tube, seat tube and down tube of a bicycle with this transfer are REYNOLDS 531 BUTTED tubes. Head tube, stays and fork blades may not be of Reynolds’ manufacture.

8 & 9. BUTTED frame tubes and steerer, TAPER-GAUGE fork blades, plain gauge head tube and stays, all made from very light gauge REYNOLDS 531 SPECIAL LIGHTWEIGHT tube. (‘EL’ is an abbreviation for ‘Extra Léger’–the French equivalent of ‘Special Lightweight’).

10 & 11. Used only in conjunction with the ‘Special Lightweight’ frame transfer and applied to the REYNOLDS 531 SPECIAL LIGHTWEIGHT fork blades.

12 & 13. These transfers show that REYNOLDS 753 tube is used throughout–BUTTED for frame tubes, TAPER-GAUGE fork blades and plain-gauge head tube, steerer and stays.

14 & 15. These are used only in conjunction with REYNOLDS 753 frame transfers, and are applied to the REYNOLDS 753 TAPER-GAUGE fork blades near the crown.

[The 15 numbered Reynolds transfers for 531, 531 Special Lightweight (Extra Léger) and 753 tubing, printed in color in English and French versions, with captions explaining which tubes each transfer certifies. The 531 designs are yellow with green or magenta on black, as rectangles for the frame, triangles (4 and 5) and shields (10 and 11) for the fork blades, and the 753 designs (12 to 15) are yellow and green on violet; transfer 3 carries four green stars beside its 531, and most designs carry the TI roundel and a three-line maker’s imprint, which with some other small words is too small in this scan to read letter by letter and is given as read from its word shapes, marked [?]. A vertical join or crease runs down the page about two-fifths of the way across, where the green rule steps slightly; no printed folio.]

— Page 4 —
BUTTED FRAME TUBES
Reynolds Double Butted Frame Tubes are supplied to a standard length, but to allow for shortening to suit manufacturers’ frame designs, one end is made with a longer butt. All adjustments to length should be made to this end, which is unmarked.
The end with the shorter butt is stamped with an identification mark, such as Reynolds 531 D/Butted 21/24. This marked end should not be shortened in any way.
Seat tubes, which are single-butted, should also only be shortened at the unmarked end.

TOP TUBE
26 mm or 25.4 mm (1″) o/d× 1.0/0.7 mm or 0.8/0.5 mm (19/22 or 21/24 gauge)×600 or 635 mm long. Double butted.
BOTTOM TUBE
28 mm or 28.6 mm (1.125″) o/d× 1.0/0.7 mm or 0.9/0.6 mm 19/22 or 20/23 gauge)×635 or 650 mm.long. Double butted.
SEAT TUBE
28 mm or 28.6 mm (1.125″) o/d× 1.0/0.7 mm or 0.8/0.5 mm (19/22 or 21/24 gauge)×635 or 650 mm.long. Single butted.
TOLERANCES
Butted frame tubes are made to a tolerance on diameter of +0.03 mm/–0.13 mm (+0.001″/ –0.005″).
HEAD TUBE
31.7 mm×20 g or 32 mm×19 g in lengths: 150,170,220,320,635 mm.

TUBES FOR THE LARGER FRAME
Butted frame tubes are also available in lengths up to 760 mm in 19/22 gauge for larger frames. The double butted top tube and down tube have a 127 mm butt and the single butted seat tube a 203 mm butt at the marked end. Further details available on request.

Diagram and gauge exaggerated for clarity
75 mm butt
51 mm taper
280 mm parallel
51 mm taper
Butt (length subject to overall length of tube)

[The butted frame tubes page: a small frame drawing with its top, down and seat tubes picked out in green, a column of specifications for the top, bottom and seat tubes, tolerances and the head tube, a yellow panel on tubes for the larger frame, and a large sectional diagram of a double butted tube on a magenta ground with its butt, taper and parallel lengths dimensioned. The page carries no printed folio.]

— Page 5 —
BUTTED STEERING COLUMNS
Reynolds 531 butted steering columns give strength where most needed–at the joint with the fork crown–while keeping weight to a minimum.

RANGE OF LENGTHS (A)
180 mm, | 200 mm,
220 mm, | 240 mm,
260 mm, | 280 mm,
300 mm,
Tolerance on length –0 +1.50 mm.

METRIC STANDARD
D | 22·0 mm
E | 25·0 mm
F | 25·0 mm
G | 20·4 mm
Supplied plain or screwed 1 mm pitch cycle thread.

IMPERIAL STANDARD
D | 22·3 mm (0·878″)
E | 25·4 mm (1″)
F | 25·4 mm (1″)
G | 20·8 mm (0·819″)
Supplied plain or screwed 24 TPI cycle thread.

A
X X
50 mm nominal
40 mm
Y Y
50 mm
10 mm (0.4″) nominal can be trimmed from this end subject to crown fitting
Section X–X
D
E
Section Y–Y
F
G

[The butted steering columns page: a long sectional drawing of a Reynolds 531 butted steering column on a magenta ground, its thicker crown end at the foot and a yellow outer layer along its top 50 mm, with cross sections X–X and Y–Y keyed D, E, F and G, beside a small frame drawing with the steering column picked out in green inside the head tube. Tables give the range of lengths and the metric and imperial standard diameters; the page carries no printed folio.]

— Page 6 —
SEAT STAYS
Reynolds 531 seat stays are made with a standard length of taper and are available in a range of lengths and tip forms to satisfy all normal cycle design requirements.

RANGE
A | 550,600,625 mm
B | 8 mm
C | 5 mm
D | 10 or 15 mm
E | 13, 14 or 16 mm
F | 0.9 mm

E
Wall thickness
F
A
380 mm nominal taper
Alternative Tip Forms
Angle Slot
2°
Domed and Slotted
D
C
Open ended
B
Domed

[The seat stays page: a dimensioned drawing of a tapered Reynolds 531 seat stay in green on a yellow ground, keyed A to F, beside drawings of the four alternative tip forms (angle slot, domed and slotted, open ended and domed), with a small frame drawing that picks out the seat stay in green. Faint show-through of the type on the other side of the leaf is visible in the white column below the range table; the page carries no printed folio.]

— Page 7 —
CHAIN STAYS

The standard range of Reynolds 531 chain stays covers all popular types–round throughout, fluted, fluted and indented, round/oval/round, all made to the same exacting standards as other Reynolds 531 cycle components.

RANGE
Round
A | 380, 400, 440 mm
B | 9 mm
C | 5 mm
D | 10 or 15 mm
E | 22 or 22.2 mm
F | 0.8 mm
The above stays can be fluted or fluted and indented to the following 3 standard positions.
1 | G₁ 115 | H₁ 90 | G₂ 100 | H₂ 60
2 | G₁ 80 | H₁ 50 | G₂ 50 | H₂ 80
3 | G₁ 70 | H₁ 30 | G₂ 60 | H₂ 30
Or to the following Round Oval Round Positions
4 | G₃ 50 mm, | H₃ 70 mm
5 | G₃ 75 mm, | H₃ 70 mm

E F Y Y A 330 nominal taper
Fluted G₁ H₁ Y Y
Fluted and Indented G₁ G₂ H₁ H₂ Y Y
Round/Oval/Round G₃ H₃ Y Y
Section Y-Y
Alternative Tip Forms
Domed and Slotted D C
Angle Slot 2°
Open ended B
Domed

[Drawings of Reynolds 531 chain stays in four forms (round, fluted, fluted and indented, and round/oval/round) with their cross sections and four alternative tip forms, beside a range table of dimensions and standard flute positions; a small frame drawing at the top right picks out the chain stays in green.]

— Page 8 —
TAPER GAUGE FORK BLADES

TI Reynolds can supply a range of taper gauge oval and track fork blades to meet differing requirements, all of which can be supplied straight or bent to the standards patterns indicated.
Reynolds 531 oval taper gauge fork blades are available in Continental Oval configuration and New Continental Oval configuration, introduced in 1977.
The Continental Oval is made from a tube single butted 18/21 g and the New Continental Oval from 19/24 g, with a long gradual change of gauge, for lightness and to ensure that when the tube is tapered the fork has the necessary resilience at the rake while maintaining its strength at the crown.
Reynolds 531 taper gauge track fork blades are designed to combat the tremendous stresses developed in track racing, and embody the same taper gauge principle as the standard forks. They are made from 22 mm diameter (17/20 g) tube.

Continental Oval
X X A Rake B 300 mm nominal taper
28·5mm,
16·5mm
Section X-X
A | 350, 370 or 400 mm
B | See Rake Diagrams
C | 5 mm
D | 10 or 15 mm
E | 9 or 10 mm
Alternative Tip Forms
Domed and Slotted D C
Open ended E
Domed
Rakes Available
Rake 16 R 500 15° 30 mm
Rake 12 R230 36° [?] 55 mm
Rake 15 R245 26½° 35 mm
Rake 15 R245 26½° 45 mm
Rake 15 R245 26½° 50 mm

[Drawings of a Reynolds 531 Continental Oval taper gauge fork blade with its oval cross section, a dimension table, three alternative tip forms and five available rakes (Rake 16, Rake 12 and three Rake 15 bends) with their bend radii, angles and offsets; a small frame drawing at the top left picks out the fork blade in green.]

— Page 9 —
New Continental Oval
X X A Rake B
27.5 mm 20 mm
Section X – X
Two standard patterns of New Continental Oval Fork blade are available.
STYLE A
Length (A) 370 mm with 10 mm bore tip (E) Straight or bent
Rake 15 × 45 mm or 16 × 30 mm
STYLE B
Length (A) 400 mm with 11·6 mm bore tip (E) Straight or bent
Rake 15 × 45 mm or 16 × 30 mm
Both of the above can be supplied open ended or domed and slotted to the following:
C | 5 mm
D | 10 or 15 mm
Rakes Available
Rake 15 R245 26½° 45 mm
Rake 16 R 500 15° 30 mm
Domed and Slotted D C
Open ended E
Domed

Track Fork Blades
X X A B F
Section X – X
Track Fork Blades
A | 350, 370 or 400 mm
B | See Rake Diagram
C | 5 mm
D | 10 or 15 mm
E | 9 or 10 mm
F | 22 mm
Alternative Tip Forms
Domed and Slotted D C
Rakes Available
Rake 13 R260 20½° 45 mm
Rake 14 R180 38° 40 mm
Rake 16 R 500 15° 30 mm
Open ended E
Domed

[Drawings of the Reynolds New Continental Oval fork blade, offered as Style A and Style B, and of the Track Fork Blades, each with its cross section, dimension table, available rakes (Rake 15 and Rake 16; Rake 13, Rake 14 and Rake 16) and tip forms; an empty magenta band runs across the top, matching the heading band on the facing page.]

— Page 10 —
REYNOLDS 531 SL

Reynolds 531SL (Special Lightweight) tube was introduced in 1975. These tube sets are designed for the top grades of racing cycles, having tube wall thicknesses less than standard, but not as thin as Reynolds 753. They are supplied only in complete boxed sets. Detail set drawings are available on request.
Sets are packed in individual boxes complete with transfers.

D A J E B C F H G L

STANDARD 850 | STANDARD 851 *
A | TOP TUBE | 25·4 × 22/24 DB × 635mm | 26 × 22/24 DB × 635mm
B | DOWN TUBE | 28·6 × 21/24 DB × 635mm | 28 × 21/24 DB × 635mm
C | SEAT TUBE | 28·6 × 22/24 SB × 635mm | 28 × 22/24 SB × 635mm
D | HEAD TUBE | 31·7mm × 20g × 220mm | 32mm × 19g × 220mm
E | NEW CONTINENTAL OVAL FORK | 27·5 × 20mm length 397mm tip 13·5mm o.d. (Straight) | 27·5 × 20mm length 397mm tip 13·5mm o.d. (Straight)
F | SEAT STAY | 16mm dia. × 24g Length 600mm. Tip 10mm o.d. | 16mm dia. × 24g Length 600mm. Tip 10mm dia.
G | CHAIN STAY Round Oval Round Pattern | 22·2mm dia. × 23g × 440mm long Tip 11mm o.d. Dim’n. ‘L’ = 90mm | 22mm dia. × 23g × 440mm long Tip 11mm o.d. Dim’n. ‘L’ = 90mm
H | STEERING COLUMN | 25·4mm o.d. × 16/13g × 240mm long Screwed 24 TPI × 50mm down | 25mm dia. × 16/13g × 240mm long Screwed 1mm pitch × 50mm down
J | BRIDGE TUBE | 12mm o.d. × 20g × 100mm long | 12mm o.d. × 20g × 100mm long
* All forks and stays in this set are supplied with domed ends.

[The tubes of a Reynolds 531 SL set (top tube, down tube, seat tube, head tube, fork blade, seat stay, chain stay, steering column and bridge tube) drawn in white on a black ground with letter keys, above a table giving each tube’s dimensions for the Standard 850 and Standard 851 sets; a small frame drawing at the top left picks out the whole frame in magenta.]

— Page 11 —
REYNOLDS 753

Reynolds 753 is a special manganese molybdenum steel cycle tube that has been developed by Reynolds engineers for use in the very highest echelons of competitive cycle racing. Its extra-ordinary physical properties make it 50% stronger that even Reynolds 531, and frames made from this tubing are extremely light; and have considerably better torsional rigidity than frames in materials such as titanium, carbon fibre or aluminium alloy.
Reynolds 753 has been introduced to complement Reynolds 531. The walls of Reynolds 753 tubing are so thin that design of frame, choice of lugs, welding techniques and other aspects are absolutely critical – and the finished frames are intended for special purpose use.
Reynolds 753 tubing is supplied only in complete boxed sets together with appropriate transfers. The three alternative set details are provided in the chart below. Reynolds 753 is only available to approved builders.

Details of approval procedure together with detail drawings are available on request.

J A D F C B E G H L

STANDARD 801 | STANDARD 802 * | STANDARD 804 *
A | TOP TUBE | 26 mm × 22/28DB – [?] × 620 mm | 26 mm × 22/28DB – [?] × 620 mm | 26 mm × 22/28DB × 620 mm
B | DOWN TUBE | 28 mm × 21/24DB × 620 mm | 28 mm × 21/24DB × 620 mm | 28 mm × 22/26DB × 620 mm
C | SEAT TUBE | 28 mm × 22/28SB × 620 mm | 28 mm × 22/28SB × 620 mm | 28 mm × 22/28SB × 620 mm
D | HEAD TUBE | 32 mm × 20g – [?] 220 mm | 32 mm × 20g × 220 mm | 32 mm × 20g × 220 mm
E | NEW CONTINENTAL OVAL FORK Bent Rake 15, with 40 mm offset | 27.5 × 20 mm. Length 370 mm Tip 12 mm o.d. | 27.5 mm × 20 mm. Length 370 mm Tip 12 mm o.d. | 27.5 mm × 20 mm. Length 370 mm Tip 12 mm o.d
F | SEAT STAY | 16 mm dia. × 26g Length 600 mm. Tip 10 mm o.d. | 16 mm dia. × 26g Length 600 mm. Tip 10 mm o.d. | 16 mm dia. × 26g Length 600 mm. Tip 10 mm o.d
G | CHAIN STAY Round Oval Round Pattern | 22 mm dia. × 23g × 400 mm long Tip 11 mm o.d. Dim’n. ‘L’=50 mm | 22 mm dia. × 23g × 400 mm long Tip 11 mm o.d. Dim’n. ‘L’=75 mm | 22 mm dia. × 23g × 400 mm long Tip 11 mm o.d. Dim’n ‘L’ = 75mm
H | STEERING COLUMN | 25·4 mm o.d. × 22·31 mm i.d. 280mm long Screwed 24 TPI × 50mm down. | 25 mm o.d. × 22·16 mm i.d. 280 mm long Screwed 1mm pitch × 50 mm down. | 25 mm o.d. × 22·16 mm i.d. 280 mm long Screwed 1 mm pitch 50 mm down
J | BRIDGE TUBE | 12 mm o.d. × 20g × 100 mm long | 12 mm o.d. × 20g × 100 mm long | 12 mm o.d. × 20g × 100 mm long
* All forks and stays in this set are supplied with domed ends.

[The tubes of a Reynolds 753 set (top tube, down tube, seat tube, head tube, fork blade, seat stay, chain stay, steering column and bridge tube) shown in white on a black ground with letter keys, above a table giving each tube’s dimensions for the Standard 801, Standard 802 and Standard 804 sets; a small frame drawing at the top right picks out the whole frame in purple.]

— Page 12 (back cover) —
Reynolds 531: Only we can make it.
TI REYNOLDS TI
a TI Steel Tube Division Company
TI Reynolds Limited, P.O. Box 232, Hay Hall, Redfern Road, Tyseley, Birmingham, England. B11 2BG.
Telephone: 021-706 3333 Telex: 338181.
TI Reynolds reserve the right to amend, modify or withdraw any details or specifications shown in this catalogue without prior notice
Printed in England. SO/ 778

[A strip of the yellow back cover: the slogan “Reynolds 531: Only we can make it.” above the TI Reynolds logo with the TI roundel, the company’s address, telephone and telex, a notice reserving the right to change specifications and the printer’s line.]