When I was learning to build bicycle frames at Ellis Briggs in Shipley, Yorkshire in 1975, Andrew was the primary framebuilder and - as far as I know - still is (at least he was in 2000 when I visited with my daughter). He started a year earlier (the summer of '74) and was taught by Jack Briggs. He is the one most likely to know about the history of your frame. Unfortunately, he doesn't build much anymore since the cost of an Ellis Briggs frame - although modest by American standards - is greater than the alternatives coming out of the far east. As a result, his work is mostly on the first floor doing bicycle repair and sales (second floor is where the frame shop is). If you were to ring up, I'd first ask for him.
Just because your frame has a Favori label, doesn't mean it was necessarily built on the premises at 18 Otley Rd (although it is likely). The British system allows for frames of one label to be made anywhere and painted with the stores' name. I, too, would be surprised if your frame was as early as 1976. The mindset of Andrew and Jack wasn't to push the design envelope to make the latest fad, although the guy that sold pro equipment on the first floor might have encouraged it. Their marketing philosophy was to make good frames not the latest thing and I don't remember anything about aero tubing in 1975.
Speaking of marketing, I remember a conversation with the downstairs pro guy. I can't remember his name but you Brits will. His son became one of best pro riders from England and was killed in a tragic bar incident in his prime. What was his name? Anyway, they decided that they needed to have a brand that sounded more European (read Italian). This pro sales guy (whose name I can't remember) took the name favorite and dropped the last letters so it ended in a vowel and sounded Italian. When I was there, 3 out of 4 frames were decaled with the Favori brand. When ordering, you could choose which name you wanted on your frame. The pronunciation (in my American accent) would be fa (as in far) voor (rhymes with floor) ee (like your wife just saw a mouse).
It is nice to hear you say you would be thoughtful of their time in asking for information. Framebuilders don't typically have secretaries nor are they trained as one either. They are unlikely to have some perfect organization of past data and would look forward to a request for information about as enthusiastically as they would an IRS audit. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ask, but just do it in a way that realizes it is an imposition.
I have put serial numbers on Ellis Briggs frames but have long ago forgot what the numbers meant.
Doug Fattic Niles, Michigan USA
Ian Briggs wrote:
> Having said all that I believe we've had this conversation on CR recently -
> RE: Builders running businesses actually having the time / inclination to
> search their records for info etc., - So perhaps wait to see if you get any
> response from the list, and keep contacting E-B as a last resort!?
I will contact Ellis Briggs if I need to. But, yes, what Bruce Gordon and
others have said on the matter means that I am inclined to respect their
time if possible.
> but I'm biased, I just love any Ellis Briggs anyway
> (mainly because it was the first lightweight that I ever raced on back in
> 1968 - but that's another story).
What's the story? Were you racing near Shipley?
> Maybe there is an Ellis Briggs afficianado on the list who could decode the
> frame number or knows how their numbering system works?
The frame number is: 5720 - A/1.82
> What a gorgeous bike...
Yes, I'm delighted with it. I don't have experience of fillet brazed frames, but the work all looks extremely clean to me. And I'm also surprised at the relatively light weight of the bike, which comes in at just under twenty pounds as it is in the photos.
Best,
Wyndham Pulman-Jones Girton, Cambs., UK
On 13/1/07 19:40, "LeMansGTMAN@aol.com" <LeMansGTMAN(AT)aol.com> wrote:
>
> What a gorgeous bike... but I'm biased, I just love any Ellis Briggs anyway
> (mainly because it was the first lightweight that I ever raced on back in
> 1968 - but that's another story).
>
> Anyway, have you thought of just contacting Ellis Briggs direct with the
> frame number?
>
> I believe they have pretty comprehensive build records there still and as
> long as they're not suddenly deluged with dozens of anxious E-B owners trying
> to find provenence for their frames they'll probably be inclined to assist.
>
> They were quite helpful when I phoned them a few years back to try and ID a
> frame I had bought as an "E-B" and which they told me was no such thing. It
> turned out to be a Raleigh in the end by the way...
>
> Having said all that I believe we've had this conversation on CR recently -
> RE: Builders running businesses actually having the time / inclination to
> search their records for info etc., - So perhaps wait to see if you get any
> response from the list, and keep contacting E-B as a last resort!?
>
> Maybe there is an Ellis Briggs afficianado on the list who could decode the
> frame number or knows how their numbering system works?
>
> Ian Briggs
> LUTON - UK