On 20 Aug 2005, at 09:51, Norris Lockley wrote:
>
> I suspect that you could respray a Wester Ross and add Flying Scot
> decals...and no one could tell the difference. Some of his frames owe
> something to the lugged frames of Jack Taylor..that sort of British
> tradition. The company did not last long but its reputation still
> stands
> proud; the production was small, as I gather, but of lasting quality.
John McConnel arrived on the scene as Rattrays production in Scotland was running down after more than 50 years of framebuilding. He produced in penny numbers in comparison of course and to all accounts that I've heard they were reasonably well made frames, but nothing of the 'Scot' calibre prior to say 1973 when the last working partner of David Rattray, Jack Smith, died. Scot's produced beyond that time can be a mixed bag. The one remaining framebuilder still in the trade, appears to have built some quite exemplary frames during this period (and continues to by all accounts). Rattrays sales and popularity are a good measure of their quality given that it was a small company and not a larger concern like Claud Butler or Holdsworth. They employed at the peak in the 50s only five framebuilders, and though rarely if ever, felt the need to advertise beyond the Scottish club scene, they were still spread round the globe. Contrast this with the Wester Ross adverts and appearances at York on an annual basis. Of course he couldn't have picked a place much further away from civilisation to br producing frames, whereas Rattray's were at the (Scottish) heart of it.
If you can't spot the difference between a Scot and a Wester Ross, you can't be looking hard enough... I'd reckon Connel's biggest mistake was to try and sell his frames as "better" because of this supposed 0.020" accuracy figure he touted in the CTC gazettes. There were some stories about his time in Aultbea in the far north of Scotland and in respect of some dodgy dealings with subsidies he received in return for local employment, but the exact detail if any escapes me right now.
Of course you would expect me to say all this...:-)
Best regards,
Bob Reid Stonehaven Scotland