Re: [CR]a new Singer framekit ?

(Example: Books:Ron Kitching)

Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 10:15:22 -0500
From: "Edward Albert" <Edward.H.Albert@hofstra.edu>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, <hersefan@comcast.net>, <yoonglee@jupiter.livedoor.com>, <mdschmidt@patmedia.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]a new Singer framekit ?


I am somewhat confused (this is nothing new). Mike, you say that Roland was the torch till close-up to 1990. It is my understanding that Ernest also built but that Roland was the more proficient of the two. That as it may be, I have a Singer touring frame built probably between 72 and 74. It is likely that it origainally came in through Cuppertino's but they do not have a record for the exact serial # (actually they have one before and one after). The bike is decaled with Ernest's name as the Construteur. The bike also has the head tube and head lugs integrated into a single piece. Now, what is this integrated head tube/lug configuration indicative of? Looking at various pics around the web I cannot find a pattern that says this is earlier or later than then a normally lugged head tube construction nor that it is of better or lessor quality. Why use one approach AND/OR the other? Is it indicative of Ernest's work rather than Roland's? Did Roland also sign the head tube decal R. Csuka? Questions, Questions. Edward Albert, confuesed in, Chappaqua, NY, USA
>>> <hersefan@comcast.net> 01/17/07 9:39 AM >>> Actually I believe that Alex Singer himself passed away in the 60's - so many of the "classic" Singer bikes came long after he passed. The shop was run by Ernest and his brother Roland was the "torch guy". So a Roland bike (he passed away around 1990) was also a true Classic Singer. The bike in question on ebay appears to be a Roland bike. Again, photos are stinky so nobody come after me if I'm wrong! After Roland died, Ernest contracted out the frame work, although he himself does the stems and the racks and the design. So the same person who has been involved with Singer bikes since the 1950's is indeed laying his hand to your bike and designing it today! That is something for sure.

Over the years lesser bikes have been contracted out using relatively generic frames although in the Singer style. Those frames are like the ones that were on ebay about a month or two ago. The one on ebay now is the real deal.

Mike Kone in Boulder CO


-------------- Original message --------------
From: Mike Schmidt


> =0D
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> Yoong,
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> Cycles Alex Singer is now owned by Ernest Csuka and his family. It is my
> understanding that back in the 70's Cycles Alex Singer wanted bicycles to
> sell at a lower price point so the mfg of some frames were outsourced.
  
> ; The reason for the popularity of the bike is the history, craftsmenship a
> nd the fact that Csuka stills employs the techniques in creation of cycloto
> uring frames. My guess that a bespoke Alex Singer is about $6500.- $7
> 000 depending on options.
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> Mike Schmidt
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> New York, NY
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> USA
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> On Wed Jan 17 6:04 , "Yoong Lee" sent:
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> Hello, everyone at CR
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> Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
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> http:/
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> =0D