Bonjour, mes amis. I've JUST returned from a much extended visit to France - spent twice as long as I intended and even then didn't manage to collect all the bikes and frames I was supposed to pick up . Surfing through recent emails to the CR List I noticed that this rogue Bespoke frame has been on offer again! The seller just does not know how to make the thing look in the least bit attractive. As Paul Williams mentioned in reply to Sam Lingo's first post, he and I exchanged some emails about this frame when it was up for sale a couple of months ago. In fact this will make it four times since June that the frame has been on Ebay..and it still has not sold! Does very little for my ego!
Looking at the very brief spec provided by the seller, and the even worse photos, I have to concede that the frame might be one of mine. The frame number "17683" is the way I number my frames...it's the date on which I finish them - hence 17 June 1983.
At that time I was producing reasonable amounts of road frames in the "Italian" style ie short point lugs - usually Technociclo Sestese, but often Cinelli long-points, although Prugnat was kind enough to press out a small run of unique lugs for me as well. I used a LOT of Columbus SL/SP at the time for road frames, and also was heavily into internal brake cables. Each frame was built to a customer's spec...I did no batches at all.
The frame would have been finished with large areas of chrome to front forks, rear triangle, and often the lugwork.
So I think this Ebay one could be one of mine. However..and here the story goes off the rails. The frame was first offered on UK Ebay, as a built- up bike complete with a triple touring chainset and long-arm rear mech. The saddle pointed down and the handlebar stem looked as though it was about to drop out of the fork column. WORSE still...the brakes were fitted with those "GT" brake lever extensions. The asking price was £300...a lot of money for a junky looking bike. It didn't attract a bid.
Second time round I sent a few question to the seller asking him about the provenance..and received some odd answers. The second time around, it was the same thing again...no bids. In the end I approached the seller with a deal, after the auction had closed. The seller behaved in a very curious manner...demanded £60(about$105) to send the package. It should have cost slightly less than £20.
I offered to have the bike collected by a carrier! But the seller wanted to cut himself some profit from the shipping expenses. All this took place just before I was about to leave for France in early July. It was just an impasse. On my return in late August I was bombarded by emails threatening legal auction in Court, by having my Ebay account suspended etc.etc.
I would like to have a look at the frame..and will probably make the seller the same offer as before. But he was still demanding ludicrously high shipping rates in that last Ebay auction...and I doubt whether he will be amenable to me picking it up even from down in South Wales where he lives
I think this sale still has some way to run...
Norris Lockley...defending my reputation a little.. Settle UK