Re: [CR]Witcomb Cycles

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 10:02:03 -0800 (PST)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Witcomb Cycles
To: Geoff Carter <gpcarter@btinternet.com>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <000701c4e13b$56da3e80$6fdd9c51@beckyspc>


Speaking of Witcombs, there was some discussion yesterday of an eBay Witcomb that went unbid at $750. The owner claimed it was built by Richard Sachs, in fact included that claim in the auction title. But he mistated the size, incorrectly stated it was an aluminum frame, and provided only one photo. So buyers were justifiablly skeptical, and there were no bids. Would Richie or Peter Weigle care to comment as to whether it would be possible, given detailed photos, to tell which of them, if either, built a CT Witcomb frame? Or would it have been a case of both, plus perhaps Chris Chance, each doing part of the work on a single frame? Sort of curious, but I suspect that a frame collaborated on by three great framebuilders would probably bring less than if it could be definitively attributed to one of them.

Regards,

Jerry Moos Houston, TX

Geoff Carter <gpcarter@btinternet.com> wrote: I have 2 Witcombs dated 1958 and 1966. The 1958 frame is no 17858 and has nervex lugs and 531 tubing. I bought it for £25.00 after advertising on the Cyclingplus website and rescued it from a scrapheap. It was restored by Mercians earlier this year and has mainly Campag (Record & Gran Sport) equipment. See attachment. The other was built for me as a 15 year old and is featured on the Witcomb page of CR. It's has just been resprayed by Mario Vaz in it's original red and white colour scheme. It again has a mixture of record and gran sport. I'm going tp post both bikes on the CR website shortly.

The frame has handcut curly lugs and plain tubing. I went to Witcombs to order the frame in 1966 where all their frames were hand built in a garage with a centre door in the middle. There was a brazing hearth in the middle with benches with a vice to each side

Geoff Carter, Derby.