Re: [CR]Anquetil bike...

(Example: Framebuilders:Tony Beek)

From: "Norris Lockley" <norris@norrislockley.wanadoo.co.uk>
To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <20050826201757.26845.qmail@web51509.mail.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Anquetil bike...
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2005 01:08:32 +0100
reply-type=original

Hi, Sam

I've been following the Fothergill story but not really had time to reply..or sort out a reasonable reply at least.

I think it was Mike Butler who provided the correct address, and the basic information

James Fothergill was a very highly respected builder, but never a "glamourous" one like Harry Quinn. Those local riders who were "in the know" used to have their frames built by him. As Mike suggested, Fothergill was best known for his bronze-welded frames..and for "club" models, as opposed to dedicated racing frames. I have a 1948 22" welded lady's frame, with Holdsworth-type twin-plate fork crown. It is beautifully built and an absolute joy to ride. Finished in dark blue, but somewhat deteriorated enamel, it has gold transfers spelling out "James Fothergill" in copper-plate style writing on the D/T. There is a head transfer, but this too is faded.

I have asked some of the Merseyside members of the V-CC to write something up about Fothergill, for posterity, but I reckon I am wasting my time.

A friend of mine who used to ride for the BSA trade team in the 50s has a road-racing Fothergill that was built to his specification. At that time he was an "independent" for a shop owned by John Geddes, in Warrington, Geddes being a former national track champion. Because "all things Italian" were de rigueur at the time Jack offered to cut a special set of lugs to an "Italiante" design, which has managed to capture the best of 50s British and Italian styling. The bike carrying "Geddes" transfers is absolutely elegant...and it's my sixe..and Paddy won't sell it.

I last spoke to Jack Fothergill in 1979, with the suggestion that he should start producing frames again. A very pleasant unassuming man, he advised me that his framebuilder had left him to build cars at the nearby Ford plant on Merseyside, and that he could not match the wages that "Henry" was paying shop-floor assembly-line workers.

Being a Yorkshire man, from the White Rose County, it was against my principles in the 50s to buy a frame from a builder in the Red Rose County of Lancashire - ( remember the War of the Roses..the Houses of York and Lancaster ?)...but had I not had those principles I would have bought a Fothergill.

Norris Lockley...Settle, Yorkshire, UK


----- Original Message -----
From: sam lingo
To: Norris Lockley
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 9:17 PM
Subject: Re: [CR]Anquetil bike...



> Norris,do you know any thing of Fothergill bikes(of
> Liverpool) or a place called "the Exchangs Shop" in
> Liverpool.This would have been around 1955/57 era.
> This is the bike I just got:
> http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frameteam2003/album?.dir=311a&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos
>
> Also this Fothergill bike has the same lugs as used on
> Craig Montgomery"s Viking Path bike.Which he's not
> sure if they are Nervex or Egg lugs.---sam
> lingo,pleasanton tx
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