Jack Crump wrote:- I had a 1948 Holdsworth LaQuelda frame, that according to the web site was named after Arc Welder, tool used to make the frame, the Holdsworth website also brings out, I think, a good point why welding frames was used.
To use Mick Butler's terminolgy I still own and ride a lugless 1948 Holdsworth La Quelda which belonged to an elderly gentleman in our town . He bought it in 1948 and rode it regularly including carrying his weekly grocery shopping in his latter years. After his passing I was given the bike by his son , that was 15 years ago. It has always been the best of the bunch!
My memory of lugless frame building has always been popular over the years both with leisure and competitive cyclist alike . This type of brazing/welding what ever one likes to call it has been my favourite construction not only for its appearance but its riding quality as well . It has been indicated that problems with lugless have occurred ,but I personally have never heard of any faults with this form of building. I can also make the same comments on my 1951 lugless Hobbs of Barbican .
See my example on the Holdsworth site
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/
Doug Smith
North Dorset
UK
Wet and Windy Gillingham!