Hi gang: I just received a new addition to the stable.. A very nice Flying Scot frame and fork, circa 1957. It is an eye opener in that I had never seen a Flying Scot before. It truly is very nice indeed, up to the billing this marque had received earlier on this forum. My "agent" in this acquisition was Bruce Robbins (thanks again to that gent) Bob Reid has put up a few pics here:
http://freespace.virgin.net/
The positives I see in this frame are within a system of extreme subtleties, the lugs and details are straight- up pieces and parts, but are then very refined by the builder.
It reminds me again that the 1940s-60s were in many respects the pinnacle of Hand Made bicycle frames, meaning that the hand had a lot more to do with it that the technology.
This frame is "filed up" (a phrase that means quite a bit to framebuilders!) to a very refined degree, much like a Masi, Rene Herse and other famous & not-so-famous makes of that time. Those Nervex Pro lugs, in their raw, out-of-the-box form ($500.00 on Ebay?), are actually ever so nasty. The more plain DuBois lugs that Richie Sachs likes so much are also lumpy, bumpy and unevenly shaped. Most PX-10s, Paramounts, Mondias, and other makes produced in higher quantities used these lugs and bits with minimal "filing up." Richie, Brian Baylis (for instance) use these bits all the time and truly transform them in a way lost on many onlookers.
On this Scot (plus all the really fine handmade frames) great pains are taken to thin, profile and blend the roughness out and "free" the artistic form that "reside within" the crude exterior. To the uniformed eye or cursory view, there are no differences... But if you look closely and are very familiar with the parts, a huge difference exists (by virtue of the huge amount of work which went in!) I especially like the seat stay top eyes and the front fork ends on this frame! Very sweet!
Bruce, those are very nice pictures! Had I known you were able to do that, I would have "bugged" you for more! Now I know your capabilities, I want you to provide the CR with many photos!
Bob, feel free to use those pics. I will supply more when it is built up. I don't mind at all being listed as the owner!
Bruce, I am very pleased with this frame, thanks again ever so much. The condition is amazing considering it's age. I may get my ace painter to look at that little rust spot on the top tube but I may leave it alone unless it can be patched invisibly.
This bike will be on display at this coming spring's <A HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Events/Cirquemain.htm">Cirque du Cyclisme</A> ! This year's event is really going to be a doozie! (Doosie? How about "humdinger!") Gee CR folks, you need to start now figuring out how the heck you are going to arrange things to be there, as I guarantee you will be kicking yourself for another year if you miss it!
Dale Brown Greensboro, North Carolina <A HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/main.htm">Classic Rendezvous</A>