> Not cut from cast or stamped "blanks" we're now quite sure. The
> pre Latin series models were made from bought lug "blanks" or
> modifiable bought lugs, but not the Latin Series. They (Latin
> Series) were made by several processes into their final form
but
> not in the way most of us think with jewelers saws and files to
a
> formed lug blank. Thats one of the things that makes the Latin
> Series rather unique historically speaking. According to the
> three older catalogs Chuck Schmidt reproduces, the Latin Series
> lugs were cast, with the exception of the Experto Crede which
was
> ALSO offered as a "pressed" lug and priced lower than its cast
> counterpart. Flash and I emailed about this while he was
working
> on this new "history". He is saying based on conversations with
> David Miller (Hetchins), Donald Thomas (B Jackson), and the
> lugmaker he met last summer - and alludes to in the piece -
that
> the whole latin series came both ways, at least in its earlier
> years. Though he's seen no catalog that offers the other lugs
as
> presssings. Hetchins didnt date their catalogs and one can sort
> of backwards engineer their way into dating a catalog but we're
> thinking the three I got from Chuck (bound with a 4th '80s era
> one) came after the Magnum Opus, Magnum Bonham, Cognoscenti,
> Nulli Secundus and Vade Mecums were only done by casting. I
still
> wonder. Im not the historian and I live in California so cant
> have the same conversations but using my own manufacturing
> experience as a pattern for the way things evolve Im curious.
> We're curious. Have you been to the Historic Hetchins website
and
> poked around? There are some raw MO lugs recreated by Len
Phipps
> (modern and still being done). These are not currently used by
> David Miller. They are I believe cast. Exactly which form of
> casting I dont know. We think of investment casting as
relatively
> modern but I dont believe it is. Its been used with precious
> metals for a very long time. Thats called lost wax casting -
> though its same process. Could be sand cast but not the little
> windows and stuff if so, Id bet. Some aspects of the lugs are
> welded on tangs. These tangs are stamped in the way I think we
> use the term today. The little "fleur" that points down on the
> front top of the seat tube thats part of the seat lug is welded
> onto the cast lug on Magnum Opus for instance. We've stumbled
> onto the notion that the term Pressing as used by Hetchins and
> Stamping are not synonymous, though I was using them
> interchangeably. Given the description of riveting a stack of
> many pieces of flat sheet steel together and then laying a
> template on them to get a standard pattern, then sawing and
> filing the stack, one is still left with a flat piece of metal.
> We now surmise they used the term Pressing to refer to how they
> formed the cylindrical portions of the lug after decorating.
This
> help?
> Tom
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Wdgadd@aol.com>
> To: <twrawson@worldnet.att.net>; <richardsachs@juno.com>;
> <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 3:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]FLASH HETCHINS HISTORY COMMENTS PART 2
>
>
> >
> > In a message dated 3/10/03 4:07:38 PM,
> twrawson@worldnet.att.net writes:
> >
> > << Many had lugs which were also hand-made--that is, cut and
> filed
> > by hand, in batches (or, less often, one at a time). >>
> >
> > I've been following this thread with great interest.
Would
> the 50's/60's
> > "latin series"( Magnum Opus +Bonum, Experto Credo and Nulle
> Secundus) lugs
> > have been cut from blanks (cast or stamped)? This has always
> been my
> > impression, but the recent discussion seems to have suggested
> that the final
> > shapes were cast as such; If I'm not mistaken, investment
> casting is a later
> > technique, at least as regards bicycle frame bits. Could such
> complex shapes
> > as Magnum Opus lugs have been produced by sand casting?
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Wes Gadd
> > Unionville,CT