Two more "current classic" fillet brazers, both in Southern Oregon--Jeff
Lyon and Landshark.
David Feldman
Vancouver, WA
> At 11:57 PM +0000 7/21/02, jimmycue@att.net wrote:
> >Was wondering when fillet brazing frames started and who
> >might still build frames in this manner?
>
> I'm going to assume you're talking about bikes. Looking through G.
> Donald Adams' "Collecting and Restoring Antique Bicycles" it goes at
> least as far back as Ordinarys and almost all of the early Safety
> bikes were fillet brazed too. I have a frame from between 1900 and
> 1910 that is fillet brazed. I think a better question is when did
> fully lugged construction begin?
>
> Most builders still working in steel can build using fillets, though
> most prefer lugs. My buddy Jeff Lyon <http://www.lyonsport.com/ > is
> the only builder I know who actually prefers to build lugless.
> Columbine Cycle Works built one of the most beautiful unfinished
> fillet brazed tandems about 7 years ago and showed it off at all the
> bike shows. Of course he builds with ornate lugs too as shown by
> pictures in the photo gallery. I think any of the list member
> builders (Dave, Brian, Richard, ETC. . .) could, and have, build fine
> fillet brazed frames. I just don't think there's whole lot of demand
> for them. If you don't give the public what they want you don't stay
> in business very long. I don't think fillet brazing get's the
> respect it should from folks, but that's just me. Was there ever a
> real production fillet brazed frame?
> ciao,
> Brandon"monkeyman"Ives
> Just ordered my first custom surfboard
> today in Santa Barbara, Calif.