> Tom Adams wrote:
>
> http://ebay.com/
>
> 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
.