Doug Smith wrote:
> Turning to the subject of Lambert/Viscount frames and components
> brings to mind of a pair of large flanged hubs which I have had for
> years and yet when I've mentioned to various folks they do 'nt show
> any interest .So there they are , "unwanted and unloved". It is 'nt
> because they are worn or scruffy in any way but a complete reverse
> but almost perfect. I would judge these quick release hubs have probably
> only being built up once in their life time. They are complete with their
> skewers and engraved name "LAMBERT plus knurled edging on the red
> traditional back ground.
>
> So I wonder why , what is it about this particular range of components
> that leave a "nasty taste" with folks over here when they are mentioned.
> What opinion do the Lambert enthusiasts have say about the products?
> I wonder and I live in hope they may find a home one day as they have
> not ever fitted into any of my series of projects.
Lambert had a reputation as a wonderful concept but inconsistent execution. The frames were nice -- light and clean, but the forks? "Death fork" -- say no more. The Lambert dérailleurs were blatant copies of other manufacturers, and poorly done ones at that. The push-rod front derailleur sucked even more than other push-rod front dérailleurs, and the rear was a crappy stamped sheet-metal copy of the SunTour V-GT. I believe SunTour successfully sued Lambert to make them stop using it. The brakes were nothing special, fully functional center pulls. The handlebars were a nice deep drop with a pretty teardrop like stem, but the bars had a sleeve pop-riveted on to fit the stem. Can you say "stress riser?" The seat post was a nice copy of the 2-bolt Campy NR. I wish I still had mine. The sealed bearing bottom bracket was just a couple cartridges press-fitted into an unthreaded shell, with the axle held in place by circlips. Once again, can we say "stress riser?" And the untapered ends on the axle made secure crank fitting problematic. The crank itself was a decent 5-pin TA copy. The pedals were heavy, but featured needle bearings and would have been quite durable but for an unfortunate tendency to loosen up and spill their needle bearings on the road. The hubs were probably the nicest component in my opinion anyway. Simple and sturdy, with pressed in sealed bearings.
--
-John Thompson (john@os2.dhs.org)
Appleton WI USA