Taper tube frames where around a long time before A.S.Gillott's made theirs. Both Maurice Selbach and Granby (Ewings & Dean) were producing them in 1928. Didn't Gillott's start their manufacturing business in 1946? Harry Grant our famous pace follower was breaking records on a Selbach taper tube from 1932 onwards. Maurice Selbach also made taper tube tandems and tricycles. Jack Rossitier (brother-in-law to H.R.Morris) took the Lands End to John o' Groats (End to End) in 1932 on one of his famous taper tube tricycles. Selbachs are also famous for introducing flamboyant finishes. They started this in early 1926 and it was originally known as the Wyld finish, especially for the Golden Wyld colour. This finish then became more generally known as the "Super Finish" and finally flamboyant. As a builder he was very innovative using tapered roller bearings for both the headset and bottom bracket. Granbys also had their own unique headset which employed a floating ball cup and synthetic rubber ring. They also made taper tubed tandems and solos. Maurice Selbach met a tragic untimely death close to Westminster Bridge. He was riding on sprints and tubs when he dropped his front wheel down the middle conduit rail of the tram lines. Unable to free his wheel he went straight into the path of an oncoming lorry. Both Selbachs and F.W.Evans were located in Kennington Road. Incidentally this is where Charlie Chaplin hails from. On the closure of the Selbach shop I was told donkey's years ago that the the tubing stock was sold to F.W.Evans who later sold the taper tubes to Gillotts. Does anyone know if this is true? Finally I have also seen an Excel taper tube pace follower made by Dan Genner another top South London builder.
Yours in cycling. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.
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