Sarah,
Like Richie says; I think those lugs started life as Nervex blanks. Pieces have been added to the blanks in addition to having been cut. You can take my word for it; those lugs represent a lot of work. This lugset should have no relation to the standard nervex with respect to price. An item like this lugset seperates itself from the norm because they are actually "custom handcut" lugs. Once these lugs sell, let's make sure that the value established remains unique to this lugset and doesn't spill over into everything else Nervex.
The standard Nervex lugs that we see frequently are excellent as far as pressed steel lugs go. There is no real reason one might consider the regular ones "like gold" though, and personally when I see the rediculous eBay price from a few months ago I can't help but wonder what people are thinking (although having the BB shell makes a tremendous difference) when they buy things like that on eBay. That's why I don't play the eBay game. It really torks me when I see people go for the juggular on these things because just like some overinflated vintage parts prices, greed takes over and then no one can buy these simple obsolete bits for reasonable prices. I have to admit, greed is one human trait I find most distastful, especially amongst friends.
I know I live in a fantasy world here and that business is business and money is money, but for crying out loud; doesn't anybody do anything anymore out of generosity, or God forbid, out of RESPECT for the buyer and the effect these actions will have on the future? Very few do. It saddens me more than just a little bit.
Have a heart. Give us framebuilders who have slaved for many years to preserve a dying craft a fighting chance to continue without paying through the nose. The seller VERY generously offered the lugs to me before they went to eBay and the price was quite reasonable for the amount of work in that set. Had I not just dropped $900 on a dozen Columbus SL tubesets a few days ago, that lugset would have had a home on a future Baylis frame. At least give us old timers a shot before you throw the stuff to the heyenas. I personally greatly appreciate Martins' gesture with all my heart.
Interesting to see where these babies go.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
>
> so guys and gals(are there really any other women here? where are you jill?)
> i would like to ask what you think of these lugs. especially like to hear
> from the framebuilders. i mentioned to a builder i know how high a set went
> for on ebay a few months ago. he was amazed that anyone would pay so much .
> his opinion was they were not that great to build with and he paid about $5
> a set when they were in production. i know there were quite a few very nice
> frames put together with these over the years. and it seems because of the
> highly regarded companies that used them they are now in demand. it that
> because of their historical significance or their quality. or both. just
> curious.
>
> Sarah Gibson * Old Town Cyclery * Lenexa * Kansas
> 13440 Sante Fe Trail
> Lenexa, KS 66215
> 913 894 5588
> http://www.oldtowncyclery.com/
> oldtown@kcnet.com
>
> >From: REClassicBikes@aol.com
> >To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> >Subject: [CR]Nervex lugs on ebay
> >Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 05:52:48 EST
> >
> >Item number 1036256433
> >
> >Very close relation to the seller.
> >
> >Regards
> >Martin Coopland