[CR] Charles F. Hill

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 17:44:59 -0400
Subject: [CR] Charles F. Hill
From: "Doug Fattic" <fatticbicycles@qtm.net>
To: 'Classic Rendevous' <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


Does anyone know anything about C.F. Hill (C as in Charles) Frames? He had an establishment on 856 Old Kent Road, London S.E.15. In 1973 I visited that shop and bought a frame that had been hanging from the rafters for som e time for 20£ ($50 at the time). I was under the impression that any framebuilding had stopped some time before. I also think that place was about to be demolished as part of some Urban Renewal Plan. My memory of walking to that shop is a bit fuzzy but I thought that it was an area that had suffered decay as an immigrant population had moved in to find cheap housing. I'm also under the impression that the shop keeper I bought the frame from was not Hill but someone associated with that business. What I do remember was that we had a long conversation about how much money the guys who built the frames actually made. Apparently there had been several framebuilders making these frames and I thought they were made there. What sticks in my mind was that they got paid per frame (not a salary or hourly wage) and that it took them on average just over a day to build each one. What shocked me was that he said they got paid a bob a frame. (A bob meant shilling like a buck means dollar. Oh my, it's been awhile since I've thought in these terms. There were 12 shilling to a pound and at that time a pound was worth $2.40 to $2.50.) His recollection of this wage scale mus t have been from the 50's and perhaps the 60's.

The frame I got was fairly nicely done with Nervex pro lugs. It was a gray/silver color with double box lining and some chrome on the dropouts an d stays. I never rode it myself but rather sold it to one of my students. I've always wondered more about that marque and would appreciate any information.

Thanks,
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan USA