OK, I usually don't go public with my guesses about vintage bikes (especially ones that have prompted such firm and differing opinions by experts), but here goes:
I think David White's bike is almost certainly a Dawes Galaxy.
I compared it again to the one I just bought yesterday (listing with photos here: http://ebay.com/
Here is what makes me think David's bike is a Galaxy: 1) stamped sheet rear brake cable hanger identical to the one on my Dawes 2) lugs identical to the one on my Dawes (headlugs including window cutouts, and seat lugs) 3) rear dropouts identical to the one on my Dawes 4) my Dawes has chromed rear triagle as well as fork - certainly reasonable to think it may be all chrome under the paint (I'll let you know when I pick it up this weekend) 5) no shifter braze-ons on either bike 6) identical brazed-on housing stop for rear derailleur cable near the bottom of the down tube on the drive side 7) identical fork crown
There are some differences (brazed-on rear derailleur cable housing stop is on top of drive-side chainstay on David's bike, underneath chainstay on my bike, and no top tube brake-cable braze-ons, for example), but overall, I have a hard time imagining this is anything BUT a Galaxy. Certainly over the years Dawes made many different versions of the Galaxy - the model evolved over time. So the fact that it's not identical to other pics or model years doesn't mean it's not a Dawes...
Anyone else have thoughts after comparing pics of the two bikes? Since I was so bold as to go out on a limb with a firm opinion, someone will probably prove me wrong ;-)
Duncan Granger
getting back to work in
York, PA