Bob, Hilary and all,
The reason I believe the BB shell is 5 pieces is: although it is very subtle, there is a visible transition from the steel to the large radius brass filet where each socket joins the threaded portion of the BB shell assembly. I believe this transition is caused by a tiny amount of brass being etched away in the bath prior to the first layers of electroplating. It is visible on chromed bi-lam frames only. When the bearing cups are removed, the threaded portion is thinner than usually seen in lugs, and is completely closed inside except for a 1/16 in air hole into the DT and each chain stays. So main part of the bottom bracket is tubing, not a lug. I considered the possibility that threaded tubing was inserted into a lug shell and that the filets are on top of the lug only, but there is no hint of this at the tube ends and the assembly is too thin to permit it.
I'll try to get a photo of this today.
I've always believed that a stout bottom bracket assembly was important to a strong rider, perhaps they had Reg Harris and his protégé in mind when building this model, which is after all commemorative of his victory.
Jim Cunningham CyclArt Vista, CA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Bob Reid Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 10:42 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR] Re Claud on eBay with Bi-lam lugs
My tuppence / two cents worth on the Claud frame and the comments of the last few days....
- Those lugs and the bracket shell appear to be the Ekla brand
'Continental'
model. These seem to have been more common in the pre-war era than post.
(
see http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/
- The earliest Nervex pro lugs I've come across have been on frames later than 1949, leading you to assume that they were introduced at that date. The only difference being the shape of the front tang on the head lugs - either looking like two small sharp teeth in one style, or the end of a snakes tongue in the other.
- Although the frame is now clearly from 1949, there's no reason to
assume
it wasn't sold new as late as 1951 as Jim's frame was. - See my notes
relating to Flying Scot's -
http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/
- The use of bronze as opposed to brass for brazing appears to have hit the UK lightweight scene big time in the mid 30's - a method Harry Rensch at Paris claims he saw in France in 1935, and introduced in 1936 as the first builder in the UK on his own machines...
- I'm interested Jim in how you can tell the bracket shell was made from five separate parts - not out of any argumentative rason, just curiosity. The bracket shell appears the same as supplied in the Ekla set along with the lugs.
Bob Reid Stonehaven Scotland
> I have only just spotted the new pictures of the frame prior to being
> unwrapped - with the frame number clearly written 972641 - this indeed
> confirms that this frame was built in July 1949. Now however it is
time for
> me to eat humble pie, I have just reread my 1949 catalogue carefully -
the
> model with the 'Continental' lugs that year was indeed the World's
> Championship Path Model No 24 - the lugs used obviously changed for
the
> 1951 season.
>
> Hilary Stone, Bristol, England