Michael Butler wrote:
"They were of all of the opinion that the most popular makes were Hobbs of Barbican,..."
Having been recently introduced to Hobbs and now owner of 2 of them (a Blue Riband and another just acquired when Peter Naiman decided to winnow his collection down to only the thirty or forty Hetchins), I'm not suprised at their popularity.
However, based on my local group vintage ride sampling (miniscule) I would have to say Bianchi, Masi and Peter Johnson are the winners! I was the only person at the January Marin ride not on a bike from California, Italy or both (mine was from Australia, of all places).
Dave "writing in English but using German syntax" Ross Portola Valley, CA