Re: [CR]Copper Filler

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Avocet)

From: <OROBOYZ@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 20:22:39 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]Copper Filler
To: Norris.Lockley@btopenworld.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


In a message dated 5/23/2004 7:45:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Norris.Lockley@btopenworld.com writes:

<< I recall being shown how the company "tacked up" the bottom bracket shells and seat and down tubes on some of their frames - but unfortunately I cannot remeber the models. The brackets were assembled with the tubes, no pinning was used, the assemblies were placed on the hot coke bed of a blacksmiths hearth, heated up and then spot-tacked with a copper rod, with the aid of an oxy-acetylene torch. >>

(Welcome back, Norris!) I can say with some certainty that those models mentioned above receiving the copper tacking included the Super Course, Gran Sport, Competition and International. The technique can be seen by fairly conspicuous blobs of brazing material most often under the lower tip of the lower head lug and behind & below the seat stay top eyes. Rather than using a plug at this point, Raleigh used a theoretically nicer chamfered stay end with a brazed on plate. The problem was that very often the heat needed to do this attachment also caused eventually cracking of the area. Stripping & repainting these models frequently reveals cracks & gaps (more than normal.)

Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC