Re: [CR]Bicycles rising from the dump!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Example: Events)

From: "Mick Butler" <pariscyclesuk@hotmail.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Bicycles rising from the dump!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 15:08:40 +0000


Pleased to hear that someone else is addicted to dumps. I have been for years. The British Broadcasting Corporation did a documentary on the Raleigh Winkie childs tricycle back in the early 90's. My daughter Rachel opens this programme singing the nursery rhyme Wee Willie Winkie whilst ringing her bell on her 1952 Winkie trike. But the real embarrasing statement is when she is asked how she got her beloved tricycle she says that when ever her Dad takes her out "he can't pass a council dump without stopping and climbing into the metal skip"! This programme was made when she was five years old. She is now fourteen. Rachel and I supplied loads of Autistic children with these old fashioned tricycles. Gave them a lot of fun and everyone from the dump. She was marvelous at keeping lookout while I dived and rummaged in the skips. She new what a Curly was at the age of four. We never found one but Harpenden and Letchworth dumps have. Tally since 1972 of the most notable finds. Three Hobbs of Barbicans. Six Claud Butlers. Five Raleigh Lenton's. One Rensch Professional with its Hardens, Conloys and Duprat chainset. One Ivor Holmes. One Granby. One Holdsworth Monsoon. The real gem is a early 50's Ellis Champion with beautiful continental simple style lugs. Frame building at its zenith. His shop was next to my old school in Fulham London, always wanted one of these but didn't' expect to get one for free. And more Campag Record hubs and Chater Lea than you can believe. PS. Since that lovely lady Thatcher privatized all our services, the dumps are now either private or franchised and run as profit making ventures. This means they sell everything now, but there are still the occasional finds. Only last week an original 1936 Williamson was rescued from Milton in Cambridge

Best wishes and be lucky. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.