Doug,
I read a recent statistic which claimed that a bicycle was being stolen every 7 seconds in the UK at the moment - I am not sure how many of these would be the steeds which we ride or covet. I would think that most who collect such bikes would not have them chained (or at least not for long) to lamposts in town.
But, this does remind me of my uncle who used to be a buyer for a large scrap metal outfit in South Wales in the 70s and 80s. He used to occasionally have a rummage through the skips of brass which were gathered - I have in my possession a number of relatively valuable and unusual 19th and early 20th century brass antique objects which he salvaged (they had been sold for scrap value as opposed to their value as artefacts) at the time. I also have a WWII Tommy helmet which I was allowed to pick out of a huge pile of discards.
I would imagine that a very large number of bicycles from the CR time period have long found their way to the bottom of the local rubbish tips - garbage dumps. Valuing such bicycles is a funny thing and, although we covet such bikes, our numbers are relatively small and, for most, they are simply just taking up room in the shed or garage. Or at least that was the case before ebay and the appearance of a dedicated few who scour the countryside for bargains.
My paternal grandmother once chopped up a 19th century Welsh dresser for firewood - because it was old - and bought an MFI sideboard to replace it! That was the way of things for most in the past. In this case, in the mining village in which my dad grew up it was enough to try and make do in the present without worrying about the past! My same grandmother made my grandfather sell a 2.5 litre Lagondo he owned to buy a Morris Minor - because the former was too "flash"!
I would think that many who had an old Dawes, Carlton or CB in the corner of their shed may have long ago traded it in for something more modern - perhaps even (dare I say it) an MTB!?
Hope you are keeping well?
Paul.
Paul B. Williams, BAH, MPhil, PhD
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
castell5@sympatico.ca
> Just a light hearted thought on the escalating world wide price of steel,
> aluminium etc. and pose the question ,are trusty steeds in we hold so
> close to our hearts in danger of been stolen in view of the latest crime
> figures of gangs stealing metals wherever they can. Not to say our
> machines are in the category of scrap but it makes one wonder how
> easy it could to be the victim of such a crime.
>
> Our classics have been the pride of bike builders for over a 100 years
> or more ,the various metals they have used in their skills gives us the
> joy owning and preserving these machines. Most of our collections are
> all metal not only in frames but accessories included. Bicycle thieves
> are nothing new to an unattended or insecure bike but the latest trend
> here in the UK means extra vigilance both at home and away.
>
> Any thoughts on this subject folks or do think it will never happen.
>
> Doug Smith
> North Dorset
> UK