I've been offered a 1937-39 Saxon twin tube tandem frame which has some parts on it I'd like for a pre-war solo Dawes I've yet to restore. The owner wont sell me the bits I want and I've no use (nor room) for a tandem.
Is there anyone who might be interested in the bare Saxon frame? It has its original paint but could do with repainting. It has quite a short wheelbase and was used by members of a Scottish cycling club in record breaking attempts (largely unsuccessful!). I don't know the exact size of the frame yet but it will probably be no larger than 22/21 inches as the guys who used it at that time were no giants.
I know it's a shame to split up old bikes but the parts I need-including a Cyclo touring derailleur and big, deep alloy bends-don't grow on trees.
I haven't even got as far as discussing a price with the seller but I'd hope that, once I have the parts I need, the frame could be sold for £75 or thereabouts, although don't hold me to that just yet. Postage to the USA would probably add another £60 to that which would make about $200 all in.
If anyone fancies this rare machine, please contact me off list and I'll confirm the sizes and a price.
Here's what Hilary has to say about Saxon on the CR website: "There are two English Saxon makers. The first business was set up in about 1919 and went onto 1939 building in the main nice lightweight machines. In the 20s Saxon were quite innovative offering cassette bearing bottom brackets. In the late 20s they lined their fork blades with wood to add strength. Bill Bailey, a top class sprinter earlier on became works manager around about 1930 and his influence shows in the later models. In 1937 they launched a twin seat tube tandem followed a year later by a solo using the same design. The idea was to get a short wheelbase and allow the chainstays to be very short. The works closed at the outbreak of war. "Claud Butler bought the name after the war and sold a variant of the twin seat tube design which was built lugless in about 19513. The name was resurrected on some nasty cheap bikes in the 1980s made I think in South Wales."
Thanks,
Bruce
Dundee
Scotland