Emanuel, With all due respect, and perhaps I just had a bad experience, but I ordered a custom Bob Jackson a few years ago with Hetchins pattern lugs. By the time all was said and done it ended up costing close to what the many of the U.S. builders charge and took about as long from order date to when I received it. While the finished frame appeared gorgeous when it arrived and the paint was truly beautiful, the chrome began flaking off in several small places within 6 months of when I received it and I had not even used it that much since part of the time it was hung up in a temperature controlled garage while we had snow on the ground. To say the least I was very frustrated but just didn't want to fool with sending the frame back to have it completely refinished so I have lived with touching up the flaking chrome with some paint. If I do have it refinished I will probably have someone over here do it rather than send it back to Jackson. Not exactly what I had in mind when I ordered the frame and I have never heard of this kind of problem with frames from U.S. KOF builders that I am familiar with. Perhaps this was an isolated problem and I was just unlucky but something to consider...
Edward Robert Brooks Managing Director Edward Roberts International Auctioneers of the Fine and Rare 1262 West Winwood Drive Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 Phone- 847.295.8696 Facsimile- 847.295.8697 Email- ebrooks@eriwine.com Website- http://www.eriwine.com
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Emanuel Lowi Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2006 8:57 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]re: KOF Frames and Growing Old
Thomas Adams wrote (in part):
> How many builders have multi
> year wait lists? Baylis, Sachs, Rivendell,
> Bohemian, and anyone else? (Obviously not Bruce
> Gordon, now's the time to jump in line!!!) Mercian,
> Bob Jackson, Franklin Frames (and no doubt many
> others) can ship you a custom frame in considerably
> under 6 months.
When I decided to shop for a KOF frame last year, I first contacted some of the most respected American builders.
Not only was I astonished by the wait times, their prices were way beyond my budget.
Then I checked with some of the remaining old-time British builders.
I was delighted by the responses I got from Mercian and Bob Jackson. They were very accomodating and what they offered had plenty of individuality.
Jackson, for example, will build with 531, 753, 853, with Hetchins-esque lug work at a price that is simply irresistible -- a complete bike for about the price of a frame only from an illustrious neighbour to my south.
The choice was obvious.
Emanuel Lowi Montreal, Quebec
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