I am really lucky in having two good friends who are excellent bespoke frame builders, namely Tony Oliver and Tom Board. They always said that carefully cut and mitred tubes brazed up or silver soldered with the correct amount of heat was the secret, we all no that over heating of the tubes ruins their strength. Tom Board worked for himself and for all the top builders during his working life, first apprentice to Harry Rensch (Paris), Pat Hanlons builder, F.W. Evans Kennington, Condors, MacLeans and probably others.
Tony Oliver started his working life in the Electric Power Station business and as a apprentice learnt to weld and braze. His first efforts were on his own frames repairs modifications etc. Then doing bits for clubmates Bristol CTC and Cleeveden CC. eventually he built his own frame and went into full time manufacture. His book is a classic on how frame building should be approached. He always mitred his tubes on a lathe and had a computer programme for cutting the correct length of tube. Having ridden and socialised with both I can honestly say that Tony liked Harry Quinn and George Longstaff's work and Tom always spoke highly of Ephgrave, Phillbrook and R.O. Harrison.
So really it comes down to giving the customer what he wants, making sure that its designed and made for the correct purpose, attention to detail and correct manufacture no cooking of the tubes or sloppy mitres.
Perhaps we should start a record of lousy cutom frames we have ridden or owned, or are we in danger of libel.
Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK
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