Re: [CR]EBates sans Diadorant fork?

From: "cmontgomery" <cmontgomery15@cox.net>
To: "Hilary Stone" <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk>, "Don Wilson" <dcwilson3@yahoo.com>, "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <BEB65D38.4EF66%hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [CR]EBates sans Diadorant fork?
Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 10:27:34 -0700

Don Wilson:

I thought all Bates came with bulging Cantiflex tubes and Diadrant double-curved forks. What gives with this Bates? No Diadrant forks. http://ebay.com/<blah> &rd=1#ebayphotohosting

Hilary Stone:

In the first year or so of production of the Cantiflex quite a few options were available - standard tubes with Diadrant forks, standard tubes/standard forks, Cantiflex tubes/Diadrant forks and Cantiflex tubes/standard forks...... ...... I have a Bates myself which has the Cantiflex tubes with standard forks and have see one with standard tubes and Diadrant forks. Later on after WWII Bates did offer models with standard tubes and forks too.

I have a pre-War (maybe '38 or so) Bates New Club. It's their economy model for those who "cannot quite stretch their resources." Straight guage 531 and diadrant forks. Quite a stiff ride, and a seat tube angle that stretches back into yesterday.

Craig Montgomery
Tucson