Raoul Delmare here , writing from Marysville , Kansas , U.S.A .
Father Christmas sent me a fine old bicycle from Great Britain !
( and extra parts too ! )
The frame and front fork are quite lovely , quite well made , and clearly marked "Ephgrave" . The paint and decals are not new , but they are newer than the steel of the frame set . The paint scheme is a deep dark maroon , with a striking head-tube which can be described as "pistachio" green . Sounds strange . Looks great . I only wish I knew who made it ! The consensus is that whatever kind of frame set it might be , it's not an Ephgrave !!
Thank you so much , Mr. Peter Paine !
Thank you so much , Mr. Hilary Stone !
Thank you so much , Mr. Dale Brown !
I received a telephone call , approximately 9:00 A.M. , on the morning of 24 December 2002 . It was the morning of Christmas Eve .
It was the local Post Office calling to say that they had two packages for me , requiring a signature . They were simply calling to see how I'd like it all , and to increase the chances that I'd be home to sign for things . I told them to just hold the boxes , along with my other mail , and that I'd be down shortly to pick up everything . I was reminded that they would be closed from 11:00 A.M. , until noon , for lunch . ( our local Post Office is the best ! and they know I have a tendency to show up at the last minute ! )
I showed up at just a few minutes before 11:00 . When I walked in , there was only one person behind the counter ; one of my favorite postal employees - a wonderful young lady with a sunny smile , and usually a question about what sort of bicycle parts I might be getting this time ! There was only one customer at the counter . So , I quietly waited my turn . While I waited , another customer came in behind me , and joined us in line .
When my turn came around , I smiled and said something about how I might have a little mail waiting for me .
She smiled , but as she went off to the rear of the building to find whatever was waiting for me , her reply was something like , " A LITTLE ? It's more like a whole big bunch ! "
I laughed and yelled to where she was back there , that I thought I only had two boxes waiting . She replied , " Yes , but one of them looks like a bicycle ! "
Oh ! Now that changes things !
: - )
It sure did get here quickly !
Just in time for Christmas !
So , she brought the little box first , with U.K. Royal Mail documents plastered across it .
As that nice postal employee disappeared again , the customer behind me , a very tall and very polite looking woman , quietly asked ( with a great deal of surprise in her voice ) " Someone sent you a bicycle through the mail ? "
I turned with a huge smile on my face , and answered , " Yes ! And , not only did someone send me a bicycle by mail , but they sent it from England !! "
Her eyes got very large , and she took a small step back .
So , now I'm a known wacko , an obvious nut . I'm the kind of guy who receives large boxes at the Post Office , containing bicycles mailed from England !
: - )
I didn't even mention that the bicycle ( the frame set anyway ) was probably made in the early 1950's . Hey , it's celebrating its 50th birthday , right about now . I was receiving a bicycle from England that was half a century old .
I didn't mention that interesting fact . I figured I was already in enough trouble !
The wonderful Post Office employee apologized for not having somebody to help me out with my two boxes ( one quite large ) plus my regular mail . I told her it was no problem at all . After all the trouble I'd caused , I certainly couldn't expect someone to load it up for me !
By the way , as I left , the customer who'd been behind me was being cheerfully waited on , and another customer came through the door , all at about one minute past the 11:00 closing time .
Did I mention that our Post Office is the best ?
And , Mr. Peter Paine did an outrageously excellent job of packing .
And , the box had obviously received very kind treatment by all the various Postal Authorities .
I had family things to distract me for quite a few hours . But , late that night I unpacked my red and green Christmas Bicycle !!
Thanks to one and all !!
Now , I'll have to find ( make ) time to do all the various things necessary before it can be fully assembled and ridden .
We have a terrifically good bunch of people on the Classic Rendezvous List , and a wonderfully fine area of interest .
Happy Holidays To All ,
And To All A Good Night ,
Raoul
Dear CR folk:
What was under the tree for you people?
I received a pair of (modern) riding gloves and a pair of smartwool socks.
Charlie
Charles T. Young
Honeybrook. PA