[jyl]

Hmm. Just went and looked at a frame.

The good: it is an authentic Ilkeston-built Raleigh SBDU 753. Frame less fork weighs 1638 grams, check. Seat tube is 28 mm o.d. (a hair under, but that could be my crappy plastic micrometer), check. 753 decal is original, check. No damage. Serial number puts it about 1980.

The bad: Paint is poor, but no rust. It is smaller than advertised. C-t-c is 20.5" or 52 cm. Frame is marked "55" but that must be c-t-t. The top tube is 21.5" c-t-c or 54.6 cm.

I have to measure the smallest bike that I ride well, and see how this frame compares. I think 50/50 if I can even proceed to price haggling.