Re: [CR]Information about Dayton Cycles

(Example: Framebuilders:Chris Pauley)

From: "Joe King" <joeking@fastmail.fm>
To: "Peter Brown" <peterg.brown@ntlworld.com>
References: <000801c6fe53$876bd6d0$89ca6851@nonefpfvwek4mv>
Subject: Re: [CR]Information about Dayton Cycles
In-Reply-To: <000801c6fe53$876bd6d0$89ca6851@nonefpfvwek4mv>
Date: Thu, 02 Nov 2006 17:55:01 +0000
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

The Dayton welded process was called Amalgam and the Royal Enfield had a similar process called Unitize. Both were an American electronic flash pressure weld process. There is stuff in the archives on this. Dayton in the thirties made a big play for the American market. It is no coincidence that the name change to Dayton is forever linked with those two famous bike building brothers from Dayton Ohio. Dayton was formerly known as Charles Day. In the 30's Charles Helps and Joseph Vroomen rode several 6 Day races on Daytons. Dayton even used Joe Louis the boxer and some minor American film actresses in their advertising campaigns which was possibly aimed more at the American market. Before the war the top of the range Dayton model was the "International Continental". This was a very expensive classy machine which could be made to specification. It sold for £12.19.6 about the same price as a top of the range Claud Massed Start back then. Post war they introduced the welded Amalgam models and had people like Dennis Jaggard (later to import Frejus bikes), Len West, Pip Burston, Clive Parker and many more ride for them. Unfortunately welded frames had a very bad name when I first started riding and this was due to one famous London makers efforts on welded frames. By 1959/60 you coudn't give a welded frame away. Interestingly Les Ephgraves early production was mainly welded frames. These were wonderfully and beautifully made but due to the bad reputation of welded frames most of his stuff was junked during this decade. What a pity. Clauds, Paris, Ephgrave and Purves welded frames are simply stunning. In the 60's at Seven Sisters Alf had an old mechanic work for him in the shop who had also been one of the team mechanics at the London Sixes. He told me that no end of makers tried to get Americans over to ride the London 6 but they just could not afford to come. They would have lost to much in earnings making the liner trip over back then. Croeso Cymru Joe King Nr. Maenaddwyn Ynys Mon Wales