Southern Californians also might remember some frames sold by a shop owned
by Ted Van Der Kolk in Glendale.
He sold two varieties of bike--race bikes and folders, no 3 speeds or entry
level road machinery. This is ca. 1970-75. They were all called Flying
Dutchman.
David Feldman
Vancouver, WA
> I saw quite a few of these frames in Jack's shop before he closed 3 years
ago
> and they ranged from absolutely crappy to not-so-bad at all. Many were
> severely shop worn, apparently from kicking around in Jack's warehouse for
20
> years! Gippieme dropouts were most common but some had Campagnolo,
Shimano,
> Aquila or no markings at all. There also were a variety of lug patterns,
and
> braze-ons.
>
> Flying Dutchman was the Denver Wheel house brand. I think over the years
Jack
> Van Gent put that label on frames from a number of different
manufacturers.
> He also had lower level/quality Libertas and Aquila frames/bikes. All were
> alleged to be (and looked to be in detail) Italian manufacture with
British
> threading! Has anyone ever heard of Aquila bikes?
>
> I agree some were falsely labeled as Reynolds; in those cases even the
> Reynolds decal looked slightly "off". But many I think were genuine
Reynolds
> and Columbus tubing.
>
> I bought maybe 20 of them. My college student son is riding one now and
> enjoying it tremendously. After frame alignment, repainting and adding
braze
> ons, they aren't bad at all! Although there are variances in models, most
are
> classic road geometry. Using "normal" (long) reach brakes, plenty of fork
> rake, slacker angles and longish chain stays. I have maybe 3 never-titled
(!)
> framesets left, two have Imron paint and braze-ons added. Mid-to-larger
sizes
> if memory serves. If anyone is interested at $250.00, let me know.
>
>
> Dale Brown
> cycles de ORO, Inc.
> 1410 Mill Street
> Greensboro, NC 27408
> 336-274-5959
> fax 336-274-6360
> http://www.cyclesdeoro.com
> http://www.classicrendezvous.com