Frank,
Welcome to the list. I think you will find that Mick Butler - who is usually active on this list is a mate of Tony's and would be able to give you the blow-by-blow on his life to date (in fact it is Mick who, I believe, had the TO book on EBay). Mick hasn't posted for a couple of weeks but I am sure would give you info needed. You might check the archives to see if he has mentioned anything in his previous postings about Tony.
Enjoy this forum,
Paul Williams,
Ottawa, ON, Canada
> Dear Sirs,
> I have only just joined the list and I would like the following advice and
> information on Tony Oliver Cycles. Better still a 20.5" frame to replace
> my stolen one.I purchased a Tony Oliver bike about 10 years ago from Brick
> Lane Market and fell in love with it. It's the best bike I ever owned,
> unfortunately it was recently stolen from outside Shoreditch Library.
> I have tried searching on the web but all in vain, there is no reference
> to him on the excellent Classic Rendezvous site.
> The only knowledge that I have on this marvellous builder is that he is
> believed to have first built in Bristol and then on Inys Mon (Anglesey).
> He was also in the CTC and a member of the Clevedon & District Road Club.
> Are there any club cyclists on the CR list from the Bristol or Bath area
> who might no him?
> The only other information on him I have is a chance remark made by the
> late George Longstaff when we were helping at a TA National event when
> George saw my Oliver and said that is the only British builder I would use
> now apart form my myself, praise indeed.
> I was also told recently when touring on Inys Mon that Tony is now a
> photographer and now lives in Scotland. Could he be the Isle of Coll
> photographer on the web?
> Finally I have searched Amazon for a secondhand copy of his book but it is
> way out of my price range by coincidence there is one for sale on ebay at
> the moment but this will probably go for huge money judging by the Amazon
> prices.
> Please any information on Tony Oliver bikes. Please all replies about
> frame off list but any info on builder will hopefully get posted on the
> list.
> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/
> Yours fraternally Frank
>
> Frank Cohen Hoxton UK