[CR]re Dr. Graves' Herse tandem.

(Example: Framebuilders:Alex Singer)

Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:40:01 -0400
From: "Harvey Sachs" <hmsachs@verizon.net>
To: OROBOYZ <OROBOYZ@AOL.COM>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]re Dr. Graves' Herse tandem.

Perhaps 15 - 20 years ago, when we lived in NJ, I was asked by a prominent local shop to reassemble a Herse tandem on which some work had been done. Like this one, it was an "open" frame, but chrome plated. That bike now belongs to a list-member, but I can't remember who.

Tandems are hard to store, but in my opinion the Herse tandems are wonderful displays of the constructeur's craft. The one I worked on was idiosyncratic, but just wonderful as eye candy (I can't remember how it rode). Consider that it was fully lugged, even the bottom brackets - and this on a bike on which the "boom" or "boob tube" connecting the BBs was elliptical. These BBs, ladies and gentlemen, do not grow commonly on trees, and are not widely available via the web... The one i worked on had Herse cranks. As I recall, the left side crank bolts were perfectly normal, but (like Dodge vehicles until ~1955) had left-handed thread. No, I don't know why. The lugs were nicely finished. The brakes were also of Herse design and mfg.

I certainly won't bid, and have no stake in this, but I suspect the winner will get more constructeur "mojo" per dollar than with any other possible purchase, particularly relative to singles. Of course, I have not seen this bike, so take my thoughts with a large dose of salt to compensate for my irrational enthusiasm.

harvey sachs mcLean va

http://ebay.com/<blah>

In the description it says "This bike was originally owned by Dr. Clifford Graves from La Jolla! "

I thought Dr. Graves was of medium/short stature? This bike looks huge... Doesn't loo like he was the ride, although he may have owned it....

Dale Brown
Greensboro, North Carolina USA