I agree, Hugh. One could compare these two construction techniques with concepts of Baroque and Classical in the history of music. I see lugs as Baroque and fillet brazing as Classical. One cannot say Bach is a better or worse composer than Mozart (not to disallow personal preferences, of course) and one likewise cannot say one style of bicycle construction is more aesthetically pleasing than the other, in my opinion.
While Baroque and Classical are periods in music and art history, I use the terms here to represent their styles at their most mature - the brilliant, interwoven lines of Bach as compared to the elegance and simplicity of a Mozart melody.
(As, amongst other things, a Doctor of Musical Arts, I am well aware that Bach wrote many elegant, simple melodies and Mozart much brilliant counterpoint; nonetheless, I think the comparison is an interesting one when made in a general, stylistic way.)
I happen to prefer Bach and fillet brazed bicycles - go figure!
-S-
Hugh Thornton wrote:
>
> Don't knock fillet brazing -- it mat not be as fancy as lugs, but is equally
> elegant and, I would think, requires more skill (framebuilders?)
>
> For a long time the top of the line Condor Barracchi frames were fillet
> brazed (still were when I looked 3 or 4 years ago) and I have recently been
> lucky enought to pick up a couple of fillet brazed Gillotts, I think from
> the '50s. Freed from the constraints of lugs, they have oversize top tubes
> and beautifully fluid lines around the joins. These bikes, one road, one
> track, were bought for racing by the original owner and have great
> functional and aesthetic appeal.
>
> I like lugs too, but both methods of construction have merit.