Hi Jan and Steven, first about those track pacing tandems (and multiple seaters) Jan quotes. Those bikes had histories all of their own, often being converted, rebuilt, and sometimes early motorized tandems were made out of older human powered multiseaters, so I guess framebuilding rationale did not enter the game all too often. Wild experimentation, got people killed, though.
Yes, the frames did break, and no, they were not made to last, especially not the motorized tandems which often had a life expectancy of less than a season in professionals´ hands, plus perhaps one or two more having been handed down to amateurs. Absolutely great, frees the historian from whatever research into angles, materials and development lines.
AND STEVEN; SORRY; BUT WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO SAY? I NEED A SUMMARY. (PERHAPS THIS COMES FROM YOU WORKING FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL FOR TOO LONG. I NEVER WAS ABLE TO MAKE HEAD OR TAILS OF THAT RAG; EITHER.)
No offence meant.
Toni Theilmeier, Osnabrueck, Germany.