Hi All, some years ago our very own Dave Martinez sent me copy from an
August 1980 Bicycling. Pages 92-95. Quote " How do you build an Ultimate
collectors bicycle? The man who should know-Framebuilder Art Stump -shares
his insights."
In 1937 he visited the UK on a cycling holiday and visited Claud Butlers,
Hetchins and Bates. He also saw the Thanet in the Science museum in
Kensington.
On his next trip in 1964 he ordered a Gillott with Fleur de lis lugs. Ron
Cooper built this frame which Dave still has.
(The magazine quotes Art as saying "Ron Cooper, who was learning his trade
at the Gillott shop then built my bike" This is totally inaccurate as Ron
began his apprenticeship at Gillotts in 1947. He had 2 years out in National
Service when he was in the RAF Cycling team riding a guess what? )
Art came back from a 3rd trip in 1967 with an armful of tubing and Nervex
lugs. Quote
"That first frame took me a long time; during my spare time I built tooling
and jigs to construct it. I adapted my lug designs from the Gillot(t) and
Hetchins designs, adding my initials in the bottom of the head lug"
The true origin of the lightweight goes back many years to the French
"Bastide" designs. The British builders of the 30's, Maurice Selbach, Claud
Butler's and Hobbs of Barbican's men were influenced by the
"Continental"style and pioneered this design through into the 50's.(CB was
not a frame builder himself but employed many men who went on to do great
work in the 50's. He was a marketing expert and salesman who saw what was
needed. Unfortunately he was also good at opening bottles..)
Mark Stevens. Dingwall - all hills and headwinds. Scotland