At 1:11 AM -0400 8/11/02, GPVB1@cs.com wrote:
>What, if anything other than pure speculation, do you have that points at all
>towards the frames coming from the builder already stuffed with newspaper in
>the seat tube?
Read my post again. It's not speculation but testament from two
owners. I wasn't around from the time the frames rusted through I
just saw the end results and heard the stories. I make no
speculation on why it was done, but it was done.
>I can't think of any reason whatsoever that a framebuilder would do such a
>thing. I can imagine that a well-meaning but not super-sharp bike shop
>employee might stuff something in there subsequently to alledgedly keep crud
>from falling into a BB without a sleeve, although I've never personally seen
>that....
These same "well-meaning but not super-sharp" things happen at workshops too. Frame workshops are just as full of well intentioned and but poorly though through ideas as any shop. This not a comment on any builders just a comment on the workshop environment. I'm now on the defensive and shouldn't be since I attacked no one. I never said Witcomb were shoddy builders. I laid out evidence (and if you want to see it please drop by Bike Friday and see the frame in question) and asked if anyone had any Idea who it would come from the builder like that. Like everyone else I DON'T KNOW WHY nor does is make any sense to me either. Thinking about this later last night I think most of the other stories came from Bob Zumwalt, who's father started Zumwalt Cycles in San Diego in the 30s. I can think of no reason any of these people would lie to me since none of them disliked Witcomb. Quite the opposite actually Alan at BF still loves the Witcomb and keeps it round to remind him of a 2nd at Nationals he won on the bike. The other owner in Seattle had the tube replaced and started riding the bike again. As I look at the CR webpage it say's the US version of Witcomb only imported for a while so these frames could have been from England. Maybe a little history of the operation may be in order. Enjoy, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives Don't kill the messenger in Santa Barbara, Calif.