Hello-
As a recent member of the CR list, let me first say how informative it has been to me. A middle-age health scare motivated me to get back into cycling recently. I like to tinker with bikes, so my first project was to build up an aluminum/carbon road bike frame, using Campagnolo Veloce components. Very enjoyable to ride, but as I live in the Pacific Northwest, I decided I needed a winter bike. As a part-time antique camera dealer, I am well aware of old-world craftsmanship of an earlier era. My Canon digital SLR takes wonderful pics, but when I am shooting for fun, I enjoy the wooden view cameras, Leicas, Rolleis, etc. Seems the same with classic bikes. The modern machine-made Chinese frames are of excellent quality, but can't compare with old-world hand-built "soul".
I recently picked up on #Bay a NOS Hansom Super Prestige frame, marked "Hand Brazed Designed and Manufactured by: Gotty Hansen". It is built of Reynolds 501 tubing. The research I have done indicates it is of South African manufacture, and that Gotty Hansen is apparently an ex-Peugeot frame-builder. Anyone out there have any first hand experience with Hansom frames? Apparently they made track frames as well.
I've already taken to calling this bike the "Mutt", as it is a mix of Campy Athena, Victory, and Nuevo Record parts. Oh well, I built it for riding, not hanging on the wall!
Happy Thanksgiving to all,
Rick Olson