Greatest ever uk frame builder?
Greatest ever uk frame builder?
I went to a vintage cycle museum yesterday and when i got home it really got me thinking about who was the creme de le creme of british frame builders over the last 100 years. Would love to hear your thoughts on this subject, after some research on the internet i was in awe at some of the artistry and sheer quality and craftwork of some of the uk frame builders past and present.
Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
Major Nichols perhaps?
Mike O'Hanlon said
" I remember Tom Crowther, one of the founders of Mercian Cycles in Derby, describing Major's frames as 'jewels'. He said that some people might build a frame as good as a 'Major', but nobody would build a better. Tom felt that Major's frames compare favourably with the Colnagos, De Rosas and Masis of this world, and he was no slouch of a builder himself!!"
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bu ... chols.html
http://www.blackcountrysociety.co.uk/ar ... cholls.htm
Mike O'Hanlon said
" I remember Tom Crowther, one of the founders of Mercian Cycles in Derby, describing Major's frames as 'jewels'. He said that some people might build a frame as good as a 'Major', but nobody would build a better. Tom felt that Major's frames compare favourably with the Colnagos, De Rosas and Masis of this world, and he was no slouch of a builder himself!!"
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bu ... chols.html
http://www.blackcountrysociety.co.uk/ar ... cholls.htm
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
In terms of innovation you would have to look to somebody like Mike Burrows.
NUKe
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Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
George Longstaff, would be the best trike maker.
Taylor Brothers, finest bronze welded frames.
Les Ephgrave and Bill Hurlow, superb craftsmen.
Dave Moulton, but he left for the States.
Taylor Brothers, finest bronze welded frames.
Les Ephgrave and Bill Hurlow, superb craftsmen.
Dave Moulton, but he left for the States.
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Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG
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Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG
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Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
100 years, that is many generations each with their own fashions and fads. Fancy lugs etc display artistry and perhaps show the frame as being from a particular builder, but they do not show that the frame is well thought out or constructed. A fancy paint job can hide many sins. Many very highly thought of builders built frames that were very plain but were very well built e.g. Stan Pike. Some also highly regarded builders went against fashion and did their own thing e.g. Tony Oliver. I've had frames from highly regarded builders where joints failed, so not well built.
I currently have a 1956 Higgins which is extremely plain to look at (lugless) but he is regarded as an excellent builder, it rides very nicely indeed.
I currently have a 1956 Higgins which is extremely plain to look at (lugless) but he is regarded as an excellent builder, it rides very nicely indeed.
Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
Of his generation (I've had 3), but each generation of trike builders has introduced something by way of improvement. Currently the mantle is held by Trykit. I might also say that Fred Higgins was the best trike frame builder of HIS generation - look how sought after they are considering that the very youngest is 50 years old.scottg wrote:George Longstaff, would be the best trike maker.
Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
form, fit, function; which do you prioritise?
I've yet to see any frame builder where they consistently had all three to the highest degree, and anyway folk will never agree on the first one.
cheers
I've yet to see any frame builder where they consistently had all three to the highest degree, and anyway folk will never agree on the first one.
cheers
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Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
Pongo Braithwaite!
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
- Vetus Ossa
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Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
Raleigh.
Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
Jason Rourke
Kevin Sayles
Kevin Sayles
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Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
Vetus Ossa wrote:Vic Edwards was pretty good.
I'll agree entirely. Vic built some very light frames (753 approved) and had some nice ideas and many, many years of experience. I never heard of a problem with one of his frames. The special racing tandems were something special. I always considered Vic could braze anything to anything else, and when I was (albeit briefly) working at Lotus a colleague said (he thought) Vic was involved with a human-powered flight machine, brazing the very light skeleton structure. I don't know how accurate this story is.
Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
A mate of mine was a bike shop owner and always praised Major Nichols and, indeed, owned a few himself. Best custom-built steel frames I've owned were by Jeff Bruce (both lugged and fillet brazed) and, off a CTC member, I bought a Thorn Cyclosportif 853 built by Kevin Sayles which was a real head-turner.
Cycling UK Life Member
PBP Ancien (2007)
PBP Ancien (2007)
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Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
HR Morris. Better than ANY Hetchins, but deadly expensive to buy!
Constructeur of the highest caliber, even making his own chain rings, stems and brake calipers!
Constructeur of the highest caliber, even making his own chain rings, stems and brake calipers!
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Re: Greatest ever uk frame builder?
The legend!