Carb7008@cs.com (Jack Romans ) wrote:
"I've often wondered if any listers know of other bike frames that were made like the Professional Mk IV with the oversize oval plates that finish the top of the seat-stays? They seem so odd, almost as if the factory didn't want to take the time to grind the plates flush. Yet, I doubt this reason since this was close to, if not, their top model. ".....
I am quite sure that rather than a lack of craftsmanship, Raleigh thought this was a quite stylish treatment for this cosmetic feature.. Other companies in that era also used this technique including LeJeune and Gitane. I kinda like it!!
Regarding heat applied using this technique (thin plate, brazed over open end of angle cut end) I would think it could be rationalized as requiring less heat as this whole joint could be silver brazed. (Not that Raleighs necessarily were)
This plate style is certainly lighter than the top eye plug that many builders often used and even lighter the previous "Brampton Victor" style, which added that back-of-seat-tube reinforcing half wrapped plate.....
Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC