[CR]Was bilaminated frames..and Paris.. and Cottingham..

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

From: "Norris Lockley" <Norris.Lockley@btopenworld.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 01:49:38 +0100
Subject: [CR]Was bilaminated frames..and Paris.. and Cottingham..

I,m still trying to catch up on the last 30 days of topics on the List, since I 've only just got back from France.You fellows have been very busy. I'd like to throw in some thoughts on the above topic shortly but just to get the flavour of the debate I checked out the Jpegs posted on the community.webshots.com site, showing the Paris bilam "lugwork" and Cottingham's handiwork. The "Paris" is badged as just such a frame, but I'm pretty certain that it isn't a genuine Paris but just a copy. I have quite a stock of Paris and Rensch frames built by the original company over at Stoke Newington and none of them have "bilaminated lugs" like the one in the Jpegs. The design is similar but the new version is cruder and the "diamond" cut-outs in the lugs are far less delicate than the originals. Additionally I have never seen an original Paris with "bilams" on the top-tube or at the seat cluster...nor at the fork crown. Perhaps Mike Butler would like to comment on my statements .. him being a "southerner" and all that.. and being nearer the factory. I know that several builders have recreated the Paris Galibier design, and there's one going through UK Ebay at the moment - not the one in grey primer, that is original. In the early 80s or so, at a time when there was a resurgence in interest in fancy lugs, the well-known London lightweight shop, Condor's, were reckoned to have had some frames made under the Paris transfer. I have only seen one of them, but the Jpeg frame is virtually identical.

Someone raised a query or comment about the lugs used bu Ray Cottingham. I only met Ray once, but we managed to have a real natter about lug-cutting. He told me that he has secured a reasonable amount of the high quality EKLA lugs form the early 50s, and used these as the basis for most of his fancy lugs. The EKLAs didn't have much "meat" on them so Ray had to be contented with his own type of miniscule "embroidery". He certainly had a lot of patience..

Norris Lockley... just warming up to join the "bilam" debate in earnest.