Re: [CR]mkm cycles

> I have an MKM-made CID as well. I echo Fred's comments.
> Nicely made, but no really unusual features.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
>
> Fred Rafael Rednor <fred_rednor@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Charles,
> I have an old CID badged frame that was made actually made
> by MKM. I'm currently traveling on business but can send
> photos when I get home. I actually bought this frame from
> fellow list member Baird Webel, and I'm sure he had another
> CID
> frame that was actually built by MKM.
> There is nothing really special about the frame though.
> It's very nicely constructed, with clean brazing, moderately
> thinned lugs etc. But there aren't any features that
> distinguish it from other nicely constructed frames of the
> era.
> Considering that the frame was meant to be sold with with
> some else's insignias on top of the the paint, it's no
> surprise that it lacks special details.
> Cheers,
> Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)
>
> --- cnighbor wrote:
>
> > At one time I owned a very nice mkm built in England. A bit
> > too big. So
> > I sold it. It was only one I have seen on west coast of
> USA.
> > I bought it
> > off a struggling musican. Does any members have one they
> > could send
> > photos of. Or know of one for sale around 57cm center to
> > center. I asked
> > David Miller of Hetchins Cycles and he provided this,''
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: David Miller
> > To: cnighbor
> > Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2007 1:09 PM
> > Subject: Re: MKM's
> >
> >
> > Charles, you may recall my comments some time ago about
> > frames looking
> > identical and the reason builders started to put engraved
> > parts on
> > frames.
> > The MKM was such a model, because they used all the frame
> > parts common
> > to most lightweight builders of the time.
> > MKM was an amalgamation of 3 people, Mapplebeck, Kitchen,
> > (of Ron
> > Kitching fame) and the last M escapes me for the moment.
> > Mapplebeck went
> > on to be involved with the Pennine frames. The company
> didn't
> > last long,
> > I think there was too much ego at stake, but they did build
> > fine frames
> > at the time.
> > So to answer your question, there are MKM frames out there,
> > but unless
> > they are engraved, or have original transfers, they're
> > difficult to
> > identify.
> > If I ever stumble across any I'll let you know.
> > Happy New Year,
> > David Miller''
> >
> > There is a bit on CR web site.
> > ''This marque was a premium frame, backed by Ron Kitching
> > (RonKit) and
> > built by two British cycling stars. The duration of the
> > company was
> > relatively short, spanning from 1972 into the late 1970s.
> MKM
> > is said to
> > have made certain RonKit and Anquetil models as well.
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > -------
> >
> > "Wes Mason learnt his frame building craft at Carlton
> > Cycles for
> > whom he rode for for a while. As a matter of interest, a
> well
> > known
> > British time trialist of the day, Ian White from York was
> the
> > paint
> > sprayer. The factory in Harrogate was called Chapel Works,
> > being the
> > premises of a former chapel which Ron Kitching purchased."
> > Mike Mullett,
> > Reading, UK
> >
> > "Steve Elsworth (was the) the foreman builder, at MKM, who
> > built most if
> > not all of these frames, Steve, who must have been one of
> the
> > UK's top
> > builders, particularly of lugless frames and tandems, never
> > ever used
> > any form of jig. Everything was done 'by eye', even the
> > bending of fork
> > blades." Norris Lockley, Settle UK
> >
> >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > -------
> >
> > "I own a 1979 MKM Dominator which I ordered from MKM in
> > August 1979. My
> > frame was not delivered as the
> > company had gone bust and my frameset and another were
> > collected by my
> > mother in October (I think it was)
> > 1979 from Kirby Stephen from Mr Crabtree. I have read
> > elsewhere of
> > claims to have got the last frame from MKM
> > but mine was definitely one of the last.
> > I still have the MKM catalogue I ordered my frameset from.
> > There were
> > seven models offered:-
> > 1.) Metcalfe "BAR"
> > 2.) Wes Mason "Gold Medal"
> > 3.) Metcalfe "Tour de France"
> > 4.) Wes Mason "Professional"
> > 5.) MKM "Dominator"
> > 6.) MKM "Ace"
> > 7.) MKM "Track"
> > ...(snip)... The directors of the company are listed as W I
> > Crabtree and
> > B Crabtree. The letters appear to have
> > been signed by a P D Broadbent. The company address is
> given
> > as Chapel
> > Works, Skipton Road, New Park,
> > Harrogate.....My frame number was 6184, so if the frames
> were
> > numbered
> > consecutively MKM can't have built
> > that many compared to other lightweight builders." Chris
> > AspinwallArthur Metcalf Dies
> > "Arthur Metcalfe, a top British rider in the
> > 1960s, died of
> > cancer December 11th at his home in England. Metcalfe won
> the
> > Milk Race
> > in 1964 and, in the same year, had back-to-back stage wins
> in
> > Canada's
> > classic Tour du St. Laurent. Two years later he won both
> the
> > National
> > Road Race championships and the Best All-Rounder
> competition
> > in the time
> > trial. In 1967 and 1968 he raced in the Tour de France,
> once
> > winner the
> > combativity prize after one of his signature long, solo
> > breakaways.
> >
> > In 1972, after retiring from racing, he founded
> > a frame
> > building business with another road star of the day, Wesley
> > Mason.
> > Metcalfe and Mason- the two M's in MKM- produced their
> frames
> > from
> > Chapel Works in Harrogate, so named because it was a former
> > chapel. The
> > building was owned by Ron Kitching, the 'K' in MKM. The
> > business
> > operated until the late 1970s.
> >
> > Metcalfe remained a roadie and was often to be
> > seen on his
> > bike in the Yorkshire countryside he loved. He was a
> > supporter of
> > Michael Breckon's National Byway."
> > cyclingnews.com 12/12/02
> >
> >
> > ''
> > Looking forward to more comments on mkm cycles.
> > Charles Nighbor
> > Walnut Creek, CA
> >
> === message truncated ===

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