[CR]1970s Routens brazing technique

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:45:18 -0400
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "micke anderson" <sb2346@gmail.com>
Subject: [CR]1970s Routens brazing technique

1970s Routens brazing technique

I have a 1970s Routens and I wonder about the brazing technique used. There are gaps between rear fork ends and stays. There is also a, sort of, gap in the brake bridge.

Link to pictures: http://www.monoform.com/temporar/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=444

Questions: 1. how come the builder have not filled out the stays? is it a: "French thing", I have seen these gaps many times. For instance in: VBQ vol. 1 no. 1, page 11, photo no. 2 1962 Alex Singer randonneur. 2. quality wise, does it matter, will it make the frame less "good" in any aspect? 3. if I remember it correct, rear dropouts are mostly bronze brazed (theses days), but can I assume these are silver brazed? 4. about gap in brake bridge; is it poorly built, is there a chance that bridge will "cave in" so to speak? Can it be risky to ride the bike, If feels solid though?

Thanks
Mike Anderson
Gothenburg
Sweden