Re: [CR] Vindec bikes

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Falck)

Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 23:52:36 +0100
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Vindec bikes
References: <0608F598.33D4FED9.0269AA25@aol.com>
From: "Bob Reid" <robertrreid@tiscali.co.uk>
In-Reply-To: <0608F598.33D4FED9.0269AA25@aol.com>


Lou wrote re-Vindec ;

If someone can confirm this information, I'll be glad to amend the guide. Would that mean it is an English frame or just a house brand? If a house brand, any idea who made them?

----

Although Brown Brothers were predominantly a trade wholesaler (bicycle, car and aircraft ! industries to name a few)dating from 1889 , they were also a manufacturer. The cycles (at least from 1908 anyway) according to the company history were produced at the premises of an engineering company they had bought over, R.B.Banks of Dalston, which became the subsidiary Brown Brothers (Aircraft) Ltd. They had sold bicycles from when the company was established at Great Eastern Street, London, trademarking the 'Vindec' marque in 1903. Over the years they seem to have built and sold a version of every type of popular bicycle available. Early in the company's history they had strong trading ties with BSA, persuading them to produce complete sets of cycle fittings inc. ready machined lugs for their own use and to sell to the trade. The cycle business closed in 1982, (The Dana Corporation of Ohio bought over the remainder of the company totally by 1981) and the latest catalogue (still selling Vindec bicycles) I have dates from 1970. Brown Brothers may not have produced all of their own machines, someone else may know better than I, but a company who sold every conceivable part and widget, was only one small step away from producing the complete machine with relative ease.

BTW it was Bruce who kindly produced and sold the Brown Brothers catalogues on CD.

Bob Reid Stonehaven Scotland

http://www.flying-scot.co.uk (mapped)