Hello Norris, Have got Mark home for the weekend so I am up in his play room on the computer keeping him company so have loads of free time. While we are on the subject of Saxon's reminds me of an interesting point and I know that Titch Morris is still an advocate of this. It was for many years Saxons proud boast: "Steel is very human sir! Unless it is properly handled in its infancy how can you expect it to live to a ripe old age? This brings me to one of the most vital points of frame building-Brazing. Look at you bottom bracket. How many joins do you see? Four. Now how many operations do you think are required to Braze up those four joints? No,sir, not four, but ONE and ONE only. Four operations would mean four separate heatings, and, as you know, every time steel is heated it weakens, becomes brittle and consequently more vulnerable. The SAXON method of brazing DIFFERS FROM ALL OTHERS. Its unique. The bottom bracket joints are all brazed together simultaneously under one heat and in one operation. The remaining joint clusters are similarly treated. This is one of the many scientific engineering principles employed in in the construction of the SUPERLATIVE SAXON and this is why we guarantee for 20 years". On the odd occasion I go for tea at Titch Morris's with George Arnot the old master always talks about making frames in the traditional manner in a brazing hearth. He still swears by Reynolds HM tubing. He often mentions when Frank Lipscombe got his first gas bottles and had a devil of a job brazing with them at first. I know the Saxon thing was probably by Bill Bailey who I think was sales manager there after he had finishing racing. This is just sales talk but it interesting to hear one of the last surviving 30's builders talking about brazing hearths and the old methods. I always thought that when it came to good builders from the 30's period through to the 1950's that if they built a good tandem frame those were the makes to go for, ROH, Selbach, Grubb, Merlin, Saxon and GA. Finally how about something on Stenton Gliders and Langsetts two wonderful Northern builders? Its funny when you look at old Cycling's from the 30 to 50 period there are mostly London makers advertising in there, I am positive this is due to the Cycling staff advertising reps being to lazy to venture from the Great Wen and the attraction of the pubs and watering holes around Fleet Street! I treasure my Langsetts and what about all the fine Liverpool builders. Take care and many thanks for the interesting posts. Mick
Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.