Globetrotter tandem - looking for info

[robgul]

The charity bike shop where I volunteer has received a Globetrotter tandem (ladyback, twin tubes) - I've Googled and found a few minimal references . . . does anyone have any knowledge please?  [I can't get a photo at the moment]

It's remarkably light for a tandem and has TA cranks (cross-over) that suggests to me that it's of reasonable quality - has canti brakes (one each for Captain & Stoker) and a rear hub brake (Captain).

All info gratefully received  . . . . . and subject to what we find out it will be for sale as a "project"  (collect from Stratford-upon-Avon)

Rob

[Ian H]

Tandem Club might be the best source of info.  I can vaguely remember them, but no details.  Twin laterals are not a good design, and even less so without a rear top-tube.

[robgul]

Tandem Club might be the best source of info.  I can vaguely remember them, but no details.  Twin laterals are not a good design, and even less so without a rear top-tube.

Should have said I'm on it with the Tandem Club too . . . have to say I did wonder about strength/rigidity of the frame.

Rob

[LittleWheelsandBig]

A mate of mine in Oz had a double gents Globetrotter touring tandem. A nice machine, if a little short in the back. It had mostly '70s and early '80s kit before it was updated. The headset was tandem oversized that didn't quite match modern 1 1/8" dimensions. I never found out much about them.

[tatanab]

From murky memories of the time.  Globetrotter was a brand name from a shop in London which appeared when tandems enjoyed a revival of interest in the mid 1970s.  Up until then you could hardly give away a tandem frame, but of course they would have been very laid back pre/post war frames.  I remember going into the shop while in London for some reason or another, I must have been looking for some "modern" tandem parts to suit my old frames.  I do not think the frames were particularly well designed, but they suited the purpose of satisfying the market place at the time.

[robgul]

Another avenue of enquiry is suggesting that they were a re-badged Gitane manufactured (in France) machine sold by a "specialist" shop in S London.

Rob

[Ian H]

Another avenue of enquiry is suggesting that they were a re-badged Gitane manufactured (in France) machine sold by a "specialist" shop in S London.

Rob

Could be.  Gitane did make a frame of that type.

[robgul]

Another avenue of enquiry is suggesting that they were a re-badged Gitane manufactured (in France) machine sold by a "specialist" shop in S London.

Rob

Could be.  Gitane did make a frame of that type.

Yep - we had a Gitane solo at the charity shop a few weeks ago - complete with suicide levers!

Rob

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I had an early Gitane tandem around the same time as my mate had his Globetrotter. The Globetrotter had a stiffer and better frame than my curved stoker seat tube Gitane. If it was badge-engineered, it was a different Gitane frame design. The Globetrotter headset was French tandem size but there wasn't another tandem-appropriate headset size back then.

[Assasin]

The shop was in the Old Kent Road.
I got the impression the Tandems were of French origin.
But the stock was of twin lateral design.
I never did get to ride one.

[Bledlow]

I saw one of these in Reading a couple of days ago. 10 speed, Simplex gears, 584-44 tyres (& obviously the right size), i.e. 650B, which I understand was traditionally used for French tandems. Everything fits a French origin.

Sold by The Tandem Centre, 281 Old Kent Road according to the head badge.

I'll pass by the spot I saw it locked up later, or tomorrow. I'll have another look if it's still there.

[robgul]

The tandem at the shop did sell in about mid-March . . . no idea to whom or where it went - but it did need a lot of work.

Rob

[Bledlow]

Looking at the description in the first post, I don't remember suicide levers or a ladyback, but neither do I remember looking at them. I remember cantis & a rear hub brake, which fit.

If I see it again I'll take a photo, & check the things described.

[Bledlow]

Saw it again today, but Mrs B was in a hurry, so I couldn't hang around. Mafac brakes. It's more & more French.

No suicide levers. The badge has "Globetrotter" curved across the top & "Great Britain" curved across the bottom. Bit of a swizz, that, it being pretty obviously French apart from the labels.

The shop name was on a seat tube badge.

[tatanab]

Mafac brakes. It's more & more French.

Not really.  At that time Mafac were the only commonly available cantilevers.  In fact, I do not recall anything but Mafac being available.  By about 1982 Mafac were becoming very hard to find, and I saw my first Shimano cantilevers at an exhibition in Bristol.  I quickly bought some.  They were a revelation in having adjustable spring tension and toe in/out control.