Does any listmember know of a 1960's Eisentraut around? It would be interesting to see the stages of development of his style; when he started the modified Cinelli seat clusters and how he evolved into the drastic lug thinning that the "A" bikes used to show.
David Feldman
Vancouver, WA
> Listmembers,
>
> Regardless of what Albert Eisentrauts' personal feelings are towards his
> own early work and that of all others; in my eye he has always been "The
> Father of American Framebuilding". The spirit of what we know as
> "American Framebuilders" today and what that represents; was first
> embodied by Albert Eisentraut. I believe Albert stylized the custom
> frame in a whole new way that began to influence Americans after him (in
> one way or another) immediately and profoundly. I know it did me. I
> owned an Eisentraut even before I had ever dreampt of making such a
> thing. Sure, the paint job was not the best available; but graphically
> and in quality of construction and ride quality it topped even my
> Colnago Super and Masi GC I owned at the time. By the time I began to
> work at Masi I was already convinced that careful construction is more
> important than minor differances in materials and frame geometry. My
> Eisentraut frame taught me more about the nature of frames than any
> other. Mike Howard and I made a pilgrimage to Oakland, CA shortly after
> we started Wizard Cycles in 1974 to buy some Reynolds tubesets from the
> master himself. A few minutes loading up 25 tubesets in the 1966 Rambler
> American station wagon, and we were back on the road. Albert cut us in
> on some cool tubes, but no epic visit; and yet I remember it well.
>
> The list of builders who either worked with or for him, or have taken
> his framebuilding classes would read like an American framebuilders'
> Who's Who. The current era in the US was resurrected by the bike boom of
> the 70's and Albert Eisentraut had already began setting the new
> standard in about 1959! Every single one of us owe him a debt of
> gratitude, wheather he accepts or acknowledges it, or not!
> I personally don't understand how he can have no sentiment for the past,
> but that's his business. His contributions are clear and profound, and
> to me he is and always will be the Godfather of American Framebuilding.
>
> Anyone know of a 1972ish 50cm "A" bike for sale with small Prugnat lugs?
> I already asked Albert.......he just said "what the hell do you want
> that for?"
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
> He's the Godfather even though I call him Uncle.
> _______________________________________________
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