Dear Ken, Many thanks for the kind letter and you comments and questions. Hoxton is indeed Rensch/Paris territory its boundaries are Balls Pond Road where Kamf, Condors and Rensch were once located, Kingsland Road where Waller was situated, Old Street where Harry Rensch had a shop pre-war and Upper Street where Macleans once were. A fifties cycling paradise! Paris's last proper shop and works were in Stoke Newington Road which is The Great Cambridge Road or A10 as it is known. As you leave the City of London close to the Barbican where Hobbs once was before being bombed out in the Blitz you enter Bishopsgate close to the famous Petticoat Lane street market and Brick Lane famous for secondhand bikes. This area is Spitalfields where the old flower, fruit & Veg market once was. Now a very trendy and expensive part of London. Sorry it goes Bishopgate, Kingsland Road then Stoke Newington Road cycling northwards towards Cambridge. Lots of famous Victorian cycling pubs on this road. All the famous names were once close to this area Ephgrave, Hetchins and Hanlons etc. Too many to mention. Norris is a wonderful chap and I always read his postings with gret interest. He is very knowledgeable and a great authority on the British cycling scene. If Norris says Paris's last shop was in Hackney his information will be spot on put your shirt on it. Neal, Nigel, Peter B and Doug are also great British cycling historians. I can't for the life of me remember the Hackney shop. Paris was never the same after Harry left, this is when I remember it in Stoke Newington. Jack Jones, Dusty Miller etc. Must say I am totally confused like you by the eBay Rensch description. How can an oversize top-tube effect the steering? Seems utter nonsense and claptrap to me. As a cyclist I have always found that the combination of head angle and fork offset determine the steering qualities of a bicycle. The oversize top tube was first used mainly by Claud Butler's and Harry Rensch in the late 30's on their lugless models. This was thought to help stiffen up these frames in the absence of lugs. Yes it would make a more rigid frame but steering? Only to happy to give you a guided tour of London if you ever make it overhere can even loan you a classic mount. Best wishes Frank.
Frank Cohen Hoxton UK