Hi all,
I am interested in collecting more information about bicycle framebuilders while they are still around. I've regretted that I don't know more about some of the better British builders that I have had some association with. In particular, I'm reminded every day of Johnny Berry when I'm working at his vise which is now my vise. I wish I knew more about him and his methods. He was one of Britain's very best. In my home town of Niles, Michigan, there was a bicycle builder that made a bicycle for the Chicago World Exposition in 1896 (I think) that had gold platted lugs. I wish I knew a lot more about him.
My question to the list is, what kind of questions do you think would be the most revealing or interesting to ask framebuilders? I've asked this question off list to Lou Deeter and Bob Hovey (who gave excellent answers) but I'd like to have wider audience participation. These questions can go in various directions. They can be technical questions about their choice of equipment, what has influenced their style, what motivated them to chose framebuilding?
A bit of history about the background of American framebuilders. Somewhere in the 1960's the last of the American builders making bikes for the 6 day guys (except for Oscar Wastyn in Chicago that taught Albert Eisentraut) died or quit building and weren't around to learn from when America experienced a bike boom around 1970. Before then bicycling as an adult activity for recreation was fairly uncommon. On this side of the Atlantic, bigger numbers suddenly got interested in "10 speed" bicycles and went to Europe looking for sources for them. This increase in demand also lead some to find out how to make them as well. I remember Bill Hurlow saying he got 1 or 2 requests a week from Americans wanting to learn the craft. Many of the older American builders can trace their roots to Europe between 1970 and 1976. For example to name a few, Mike Melton went somewhere in Japan in 1970, Matt Assenmacher went to Bob Jackson in 1973, Richard Sachs went to Witcomb and I went to Ellis Briggs in 1975, etc. Some took Albert Eisentraut's 2 week framebuilding classes he held around the country.
I think there may be interesting dynamics at play that have influenced our products. For starters, most American builders probably came from a different demographic then our cousins across the pond. Our various social, cultural and economic backgrounds (among other variables) must have some impact on the frames we make. Using myself as an example, my dad was a medical doctor and I already had a master's degree when I went to England. This background was not similar to Andrew, Jack's apprentice framebuilder who quit school the earliest he could and answered their window sign saying "help wanted". Actually they thought I was out of my mind to want to do learn there but were tolerant.
Well, I'm hoping more than just myself is interested in preparing questions that can enlighten us about the background of the products we like.
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan