I would not want to argue with Mark. He was there racing and riding I was not. I can only talk to what I have heard and what folks racing in the forties and fifties have told me in interviews. Guys and girls did all sorts of things to their bikes In the New York area. Essenman was located here so many riders were on Siebers, Durkopps, they also had Drysdales, some Paramounts, Dick Powers, etc. This was a transitional period in bike racing. While racing was still on fixed gear bikes the races were not only on tracks. But, they would use their bikes for both purposes. Needless to say, at least in this area, derailleur bikes were not common nor were they allowed in most races until the early 50's. Also, most bike riders could only afford one bike so they had to be suitable to different kinds of events. Whether one likes it or not they drilled holes for brakes for the road and later on they even brazed on derailleur hangers so they could race their track bikes on the road when derailleurs became more popular and were allowed. At least this enabled them to remain competitive when not on the track. I have a Dick Power track bike that I got from Nancy Burghart on which she won three national women's Championships and on which she rode the worlds in Barcelona in 1960. Dick brazed on an extra rear brake bridge with a whole to accommodate a rear brake. She simply could not afford another bike. The bike has two bridges hole and unhole. Heresy to drill a brake hole in a track bike. I think not. Edward Albert Chappaqua, New York, USA
On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 3:38 PM, walljet01@netzero.com <walljet01@netzero.com
> wrote:
> Now we have gotten some good input from people that have actually raced
> these bikes and others that have them, drilled and not drilled. What I would
> like to know is what is the most likely guess as to who was doing the
> drilling: Seiber, John Eisenmann (importer) or the local bike shop? It seems
> to me that there are too many that are drilled which seems unlikely
> considering the fact that track riders considered it heresy to drill. So
> maybe they came from the plant that way. I have no idea, but since it has
> come up, I'd like to know. Eddie, feel free to jump in.
>
> Jerry Jeter, Wildwood, MO USA