Thanks for the replies, both on and off List to my recent query... but I note that the hysteria is probably about to start up again with the recent outing on eBay of a set of RH's cantilever brakes - Item 3681456549.
As a framebuiler myself I can clearly appreciate the different qualities of a Herse frame when compared with say, a Jack Taylor, differences arising from the differences in the motivation of the builders themselves, and I think I might be able to understand why some cyclists are willing to shell out all those $$$$ to get their hands on an RH. However I have greater difficulty in understanding why those same folk want to spend even more cash, sometimes great quantities of it on a set of paltry brakes , particularly when Rene for certain didn't produce those with his own hands. Or did he? Anyone out there know? They seem to be forged to me.
Searching the web for something that had nothing at all to do with Rene or Alex or Jo, I came across the following web-site that will be of interest to all those Herse-watchers among you. You probably check it out daily in case, but here goes..
http://www.cyclos-cyclotes.org/
it's related to the French cycling association the "Confrere 650B"
Good hunting
Norris Lockley...just going to file up a block of aluminium