'Enlightenment IS badly needed...........
Mr.Needleman ..What is your problem?
I am the vendor of this frameset.
It was built for me some 6 years ago by Ron Cooper along with some 200 plus
others.
I owned the rights to build these fine frames until handing them over to
Martin Coopland of Classic Bikes last year.
Over the 60 plus years that these frames have been produced, they have been
built with 'Normal' Reynolds tubing, as well as the(more commonly) Cantiflex
Reynolds. See the Bates 'Club' model in your catalogue and you hopefully begin
to be enlightened.
The same applies to the fork blade design.
There was never such a thing as 'Standard finish'..there may have been
similarities, but it was always customer choice.
This frame was built to MY SPECIFICATION ..I owned the rights..I could
do/specify
whatever I wanted....AND IN THIS CASE DID.!!!!!!
The 1950s decals are COPIES....of originals. They are attractive and
colourful and I think add to the overall excellence of the frame.
Can I ,at this point clear -up a few things.
Ron Cooper has built every Bates frame..Cantiflex or otherwise since 1985
Bates frames are sequentiality numbered (with a few exceptions) from
1936-2003
These numbers were issued by Peter Bates and indeed are still recorded by him
today.
I am NOT going to get into the similar debate that went on for ages about
Hetchins etc etc.
Just to say ..the above are FACTS from someone who KNOWS.
I trust the above clarifies the matter.
Ray Etherton ...IF YOU PAY THE MONEY YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU PLEASE Maldon, UK.