[CR] Armstrong Moth Pro

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Falck)

Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:09:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Greg Lone" <gwlone@yahoo.ca>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR] Armstrong Moth Pro


Hi list; I don't want to start another "Dawes" debate such as we recently had, however I am curious about the time frame of Armstrong Moth production and N.American sales availability. I recently acquired a frame and fork from a Moth Pro. It's a collection of nice components {531 D.B tubes, Campy dropouts, and Nervex Pro lugs}, assembled an a pretty so so manner. The lugs in particular are a good example of why Nervex lugs require a lot of handwork to look good. These ones look like they were used pretty much out of the box. As an aside why is there a double standard between the detail work on Italian frames and their British cousins? What is considered sloppy and second rate {plainly visible file marks etc. } on a British frame is considered to be a mark of an artisan built Italian frame. EG. it's the handling and ride that's important. The paint, chrome and detail work seem to be secondary considerations on Italian racing frames.   I am interested if anyone has an Idea of when these frames were made? According to the scant info I can find in the archives and Internet search, Armstrong and it's parent Phillips were bought out by Raleigh in 1960. Did Moth production carry on after the Raleigh buy out? So so build quality aside these frames would have been in a decidedly higher league than anything Raleigh would have been building at the time. Thanks for any info you might be able to provide.

Greg Lone
Langley B.C.
Canada