Re: [CR]Re: ebay auction... "ALCYON 1930" .. why no bids?

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:29:41 +0000
From: "Hilary Stone" <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk>
To: "billungardesign@juno.com" <billungardesign@juno.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Re: ebay auction... "ALCYON 1930" .. why no bids?
References: <20070104.101040.14368.1593036@webmail23.nyc.untd.com>
In-Reply-To: <20070104.101040.14368.1593036@webmail23.nyc.untd.com>
cc: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
cc: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

The blue colour is pretty much correct for Alcyon - that blue was their trademark colour. However I am very uncertain about the frame - I would expect it to have straight chainstays if it was a genuine track bike and the fork crown is not what I would have thought was Alcyon. It did cross my mind that possibly this bike was originally a roadster which could have rear facing dropouts though even the photos don't show whether it has rear facing drops. Alcyon however were a pioneer of welded frames. Track frames in the 1930s however often had quite a short offset. I am intrigued by the owners description of the hubs as Alcyon-Campagnolo. Campagnolo small flange hubs were available by 1934 and in those early days I think sometimes had another name attached to them as well if they made for a particular bike manufacturer. But the photos are not especially clear...

Hilary stone, Bristol, England

billungardesign@juno.com wrote:
> Hi Dale,
>
> Its only speculation, but the lack of interest in the Alcyon "1930" may
> be due to the following:
>
> 1. Frame is not lugged, which I think deminishes from its appearance.
> 2. Powder blue paint job appears it could be a spray can job (from
> pics), and somehow does not seem to be a '30s period color. If the
> color of a bike is not balanced with the parts (plays too big a role),
> it can distract from the appearance, I believe.
>
> 3. Fork does not seem to be 30's period. Correct me if I am wrong, but
> I believe forks had considerable rake back then, up through the 60's.
> Fork appears to be a 70's/80's fork?
> 4. Components appear to be a mixture of 50's and 60's period, while the
> stated age of bike is 30's? So where are the '30s parts. I may be wrong
> about this.
>
> All in all, these factors together certainly might discourage a CR
> enthusiest, as well as folks who might want a beautiful old bike.
>
> Bill Ungar
> Torrance, CA
> USA
>
>
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