I dont think that there is any problem with the bracket in this set of "Ner vex lugs", as the seller cyclonbro is quite a well-reputed seller. I'm pret ty certain that the bracket shell is a Nervex Serie Legere one, possibly mo del 161, that used to be sold on with the Pro lugs, as a set, possibly with a combination of angles, bracket height etc that was not covered in the st andard Pro combination, which was, after all, a "racing" set. In that case the bracket would be stamped with the "Nervex" name.
As for the Wagner crown, these were just seen as very ordinary over here in the UK, and brazed up in the tens of thousands by the likes of Raleigh. Ov er the years I have had several variations on the general theme from Wagner .. Some that I stil have in stock have a tapered off "relieved " web area between the wall of the steering column hole and the wall of the socke t for the fork blade, that is intended to reduce the need for an excessivel y long heating up period. Others that I have used were solid metal between the column and the blade socket. In these cases it was customary to drill a couple of 6/7mm holes each side of the column hole into this mass of metal to help reduce the amount of heat needed. In any case the blades can be br azed into place during the same heating as the column is brazed in, thereby avoiding the need for a second prolonged heating period.
I have never really been a fan of the Nervex Pro crown, nor were they parti cularly popular in the UK, with builders preferring crowns such as the EKLA or the AERTS.
About twenty-five years ago I was fortunate in getting Ron Kitching to let me "rummage" round among his obsloetre stock. I found a box of Milremo bran d forged crowns - Model No2020/"Corsa" B, in Ron's early 70s catalogue. The se have a small circular cut-out in the side that can be tweaked with a nee dle file to resemble quite closely a Nervex Pro lug. At the same time I fou nd a box of Milremo 2030.Giro"A" crowns..but none of his unusual 2010/Crsa "a" models. Although I live only forty miles from Ron's warehouse, and used to call in each week, I have never seen this model on any frame/fork combi nation.. It's a pity because it looks to have much scope for reshaping.
When I read the contri about the $300 Nervex lug set, I remembered that las t year a set fetched $550..so they must be reducing in price...but neverthe less I dashed out to the workshop to check out my sadly diminished stock. P robably there are several frame-builders on the List who have, like me, set s of Nervex missing either the seat lug, or one of the headlugs. I have sev eral brackets..but they are metric dimensions, whereas all the lugs are Imp erial sizes. Maybe we should set up a "Swop Shop".
Norris Lockley, Settle UK
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