Frank Ellingford wrote:
>
> Good evening,
> They look bog standard normal chunky 80's seat stays to me. Ken Bird was the brother of Alec Bird. Ken was a wheelbuilder he never built frames. He started as a boy at Claud Butler's. Most of Ken's better stuff was built by Bill Philbrook also ex Claud Butler's (and Gillott's). My old mucker Mick B went to Ken's shop in Orpington to have a bespoke time trial frame made but when he found out that Ken didn't build and that he was using Bill Philbrook for his frames he went straight to Bill's in Gillingham.
> He saved himself a tidy sum. What I can't understand for the life of me is that I know for a fact that he offered that frame to the list very cheaply and sadly no takers! He also put it on ebay again no tackers. It eventually was purchased by an American who really appreciated it and was surprised it was so cheap.
> Just seems you guys won't buy it unless it is telephone numbers! Loads of noughts after it. Or an inflated Masi. Funny place America!
>
> Best wishes a bemused Brit . Frank Ellingford London UK.
Frank, I really enjoy reading your posts from London about old bikes, but I'm less entertained by your bemused observations about America. Maybe we could just keep the conversations on the bikes and leave the national observations to ourselves?
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, CA
"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing in the tempting place." --Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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