When Chuck said of Italians "They provided the source of inspiration for
most of the US frame builders in the early 1970s I'd add. " My eyebrows
went up sharply. I certainly would not dispute his word, as I know full
well he has forgotten more about bikes than I'll ever know and I really have
the deepest respect here.
I would ask how this Italian influence squares with the fact that so any of
the American frame builders went to England to learn how to build? Was it
simply that employment in Italian bike shops was not available, or perhaps
the language barrier was intimidating ? Hard to imagine such stalwarts as
Richard Sachs, Doug Fattic and Peter Weigle being easily intimidated, but
maybe. For sure Richard's bikes have more than a bit of the Italian in them
to my eye (Now I may be getting into real trouble), but Peter's bikes seem
to embody the English more and Doug's are clearly part of that American
School represented so well by himself, Chris Kvale and Eisentraut. Although
Doug's fancier lugwork is certainly English influenced. Lord, I have
probably alienated all of them by this point! Hope not.
Chuck would you expand on your comment a bit? Perhaps a couple of frame
builders might chime in here too?
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi