[CR]Now: Bilaminate construction Was: Ritchey with faux lugs?!?

(Example: Framebuilders:Masi)

Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 13:39:04 -0800
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <OF4E955D44.FD2E8255-ON85256E99.006BFEAC-85256E99.006F8F5A@mail.gm.com>
Subject: [CR]Now: Bilaminate construction Was: Ritchey with faux lugs?!?


> Tom Adams wrote:
>
> http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
> ebay # 3678189477
>
> Seen on ebay, this Ritchey bike. Aside from being an excellent looking, on
> topic bike by a prominent Amercian Builder, the seller (Filmschool, who I
> think is a list member) says that this frame is fillet brazed, then filed
> to look like it has lugs. Has anyone any background, reasoning or history
> of this style of tube joinery? I can't really tell from the pics how this
> work was accomplished.

This is what is called Bilaminate construction. A section of tube is placed over another and brazed together, with a fillet braze added at the tube joint. There is no corresponding lug collar on the seat or head tubes.

Used by Claud Butler (England) in the '40s/'50s (?) and probably before. Very easy way to mass produce fancy, seemingly "hand cut," lugs from sheet steel.

Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California

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