As a rejoinder to my earlier Contri about Woodrup frames..and just in case I have whetted anyone's appetite to buy one ( I note Ian's thinking of adding one to his stable of Yorkshire-made mounts), I thought that a chance happening of earlier today might be of interest.
This afternoon I had volunteered to taxi an old friend of mine to hospital where his elderly wife is seriously ill. Because I don't have a very good bedside manner on such occasions, I decide to spend the couple of hours of visiting time visiting a frame-builder/sprayer, near Bradford, who does the bulk the spraying on the few frames that I still build or repair.
The guy is one of the few UK builders still building frames...very high quality.. in steel, many of which are bronze-welded. He admits that (unlike the case quoted with Richard Sachs and quite a few other American builders), he doesn't build many frames these days, but survives on repairs and resprays, trade-ins etc..and some low-level work for local bike shops.
His workshop was like a cycle graveyard, with dozens of new Fondriest, Pinarello, Coppi steel frames hanging off the walls. ...frames that are almost unsellable in the UK these days. Elsewhere there was a large variety of other brands, some for respray, some for sale. In and amongst I spotted about half a dozen Woodrups....not surprising really as their shop is only a half-hour ride away.
I cannot recall what sizes or models the frames were, but if anyone is interested I would be happy to give the builder a call. It might just be possible to get yourselves a bargain..and help my friend clear some stock at the same time.
Norris Lockley, Settle UK