I recently rode a Andy Gilmour that was in our shop for a check up. It was custom built for a local doctor and was very nice indeed. It was a pearl white in color and very nicely built. It had an extremely short top tube as requested by the client therefore it felt extremely odd to me but I know the client just adores the bicycle and cannot say enough praise. I also had the oppurtunity to ride a Bruce Gordon bicycle the other day, I was surprised to see it was TIG welded. I expected it to be a lugged design. Is this TIG normal for a Bruce Gordon?? Just curious. I believe the model was BLT.
I am interested in seeing other small name builders as well (like Sam mentioned below) since I am learning there are many many out there in this day and age.
Walt Skrzypek in Falls Creek, Pa ------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
>From: Brandon Ives
>To: Mark Poore
>CC: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: Little known builders Re: [CR]A couple of Classics
>Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 12:52:35 -0500 (EST)
>
>Andy's bikes are really nice, or at least the two I've seen in person are
>quite nice. I think he was the subject of one of Bicycle Guide's Hot
>Tubes articles.
>
>We spend so much talking about "the big players" we forget about all the
>little craftspeople who build with all the skill and design of the known
>masters. The flat-out best touring frame I've ever seen was by a guy named
>Sam Braxton from Missoula, Montana. I'd be really surprised if anyone on
>the list actually owned one of his bikes, and I'll bet that fewer than 10
>people on the list have even hear of him. Sam owned the best shop in the
>Inland Northwest, but wasn't racing oriented so he got little
>attention. I never say his name mentioned in the cycling press and only
>heard of his passing from a friend who worked for him in the 60s-70s. To
>this day I still kick myself for selling one of his frames because it was
>"too small." Mine was really basic and had been ridden hard and put away
>wet on more than one occasion. In my life I've only seen 6 of his frames.
>
>Anyway, I'm sure most of the people on the list know of a couple "great
>unknowns" so who are they?
>enjoy,
>Brandon"monkeyman"Ives
>
>"Nobody can do everything, but if everybody did something everything would
>get done." Gil Scott-Heron
>
>On Mon, 11 Jun 2001, Mark Poore wrote:
>
> > Just a quick note, as my boss might walk through the door any minute, on a
> > few bikes that might be of interest. There is a Penny Farthing SP? on ebay
> > dated 1880 sitting at $8,100 and reserve hasn't been met yet. Could be one
> > exciting auction to watch along with the Confente auction. There is also a
> > Cinelli that is up there in price, about $1,500 or so. And then a Gilmour
> > that is located in England and it just my size. I met Andy in Tuscan in 1986
> > and fell in love with his work. The silver and brass head badges were a work
> > of art in themselves. It is too bad not many folks have heard of him or have
> > seen his work. Many a top national rider were sporting one of his frames
> > between their legs.
> >
> > Dale, do you have any info or photos on his bikes?
> >
> > Mark, I hear footsteps, Poore
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