Re: [CR]Ernie Clement frame?

(Example: Production Builders)

To: hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 14:51:00 -0400
Subject: Re: [CR]Ernie Clement frame?
From: "Richard M Sachs" <richardsachs@juno.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
cc: OROBOYZ@aol.com
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

snipped from text: "...Ernie I think still runs Cycles Clement in Ledbury who import Simoncini frames and Frank runs Sirius Cycles (the less said the better about Sirius - a sponsored rider of theirs had the front forks fail whilst out training!)."

are you serious? e-RICHIE chester, ct

On Tue, 03 Jun 2003 19:40:53 +0100 Hilary Stone <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk> writes:
> I am sorry to correct our list master but Ernie Clements did at one
> stage in
> the late 40s/early 50s have his own business - Ernie Clement Cycles
> which
> was based at Chapel Steet, Dawley, Shropshire - this is almost West
> Midlands
> and fairly close to Wolverhampton. I have three items from Ernie
> Clements
> Cycles - a gear chart with a list of models on the reverse side -
> two are
> welded (fillet brazed), the Wrekin and the Special Course. The
> second item
> is a price list which is dated September 1948 with just the Wrekin
> and Super
> Course models welded. The third item is a catalogue which must date
> from
> 1950 or a little later. The Special Course is available at this
> time in
> lugged form as well and the Clees model is available in both lugged
> and
> welded versions, the Wrekin is also just available in welded form.
> Featured
> is his own design of fork end incorporating a hanger for Simplex or
> Cyclo
> Benelux gears. Over the years I have seen several Clements frames
> with these
> ends which are quite distinctive with two concave shaped faces to
> the rear
> of the dropout. I think they were supplied to few other makers too -
> but
> nothing like in the quantity that Percy Stallard supplied his
> designs of
> end.
> However what I find most fascinating is the fact that he has
> copied
> Percy Stallard's gear chart to even being printed on yellow card
> just the
> same and the use of very similar model names for his cycles. The
> Clements
> brothers were not known as the West Midlands cycle industry mafia
> without
> good reason! Ernie I think still runs Cycles Clement in Ledbury who
> import
> Simoncini frames and Frank runs Sirius Cycles (the less said the
> better
> about Sirius - a sponsored rider of theirs had the front forks fail
> whilst
> out training!).
>
> Hilary Stone, Bristol, England
>
>
> > In a message dated 6/3/2003 9:19:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > brucerobbins@supanet.com writes:
> >
> > <<
> > I've been offered a 1952 Ernie Clement fillet brazed frame but
> don't know a
> > lot about him other than that he once kissed Jean Kent on the CR
> British
> > Isles
> > page. I know he went on to design some Falcons but does anyone
> know anything
> > about his own, earlier bikes? >>
> Dale Brown wrote:>
> > I cannot verify this, but my understanding was that Ernie never
> built bikes
> > but had his name applied to them. He was the top manager at Falcon
> in the
> > 1960s
> > and 70s. The history of that particular bike would be interesting
> to know but
> > my educated guess is that it came into being as part of an effort
> to
> > capitalize on his popularity and fame as a racer...