I've seen other builders add odd tubes between chainstays and seattubes and chainstays and seatstays in an effort to stiffen the rear end of the bike. Given the location of these tubes, I'd guess they were to keep those thin stays from flexing, i.e, reduce brake chatter.
Cheers! Don Ferris Littleton, Colorado ************* David Rattray's were never ones for frivolous additions and there must have been some thought / logic behind their use wether real or perceived. The company had no need to use gimmicks to sell machines nor any real advertising for that matter at any time over 60+ years of production, but were obviously not immune to providing these "customer" specified oddities. As to the additional weight ? it's entirely negligible given that we are talking about two 3 inch length of hollow tube here.
So what was the point of the similar stays on the Southall machine ?
Bob Reid Stonehaven Scotland
>
> Hugh Thornton
> Nantwich, England
>
>> From: Bob Reid <bob.reid1@virgin.net>
>> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>> Subject: [CR]Another "odd" lightweight frame design.......
>> Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 19:31:40 +0100
>>
>> But this time it's Scottish !
>>
>> As much input as possible (theory or fact) would be appreciated on this
>> frame ;
>>
>> http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/
>>
>> Though dating from 1949, at first It doesn't look particularly unusual,
>> until you notice it has two more tubes than usual !.
>>
>> Is this just another "funny" frame with peculiar ideas ?. Something
makes
>> me think I've seen this treatment of the seat stays done before, but
about
>> the only benefit I can see from doing it, is to stiffen the ultrathin
>> pencil
>> seat stays in reaction to the forces under hard braking.....but I'm sure
>> one
>> of the framebuilders on the list will tell me different !
>>
>> Bob Reid
>> Stonehaven
>> Scotland