[CR]Trek and the IC Head-Tube?

(Example: Production Builders)

To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:15:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
Subject: [CR]Trek and the IC Head-Tube?

Re: (This is borderline on-topic, my apologies if it isn't) :

http://ebay.com/<blah>

in particular:

http://img1.iwascoding.de/1/2008/10/10/A92CB2F9F6DC4CC393F4A93BF315A074.jpg

Is TREK the only company to make investment-cast (IC) head-tubes? Can someone comment on the quality (either the weight, or durability) of TREK IC head-tubes? Has anyone ever had a failure with one of these? How did TREK deal with the 'orange-peel' from the sand casting process?

This innovation was developed in about 1983 or 1984. It saved a lot of time and cost in the manufacture of the lower-end TREKs, as no lugs had to be brazed onto the head tubes, and they probably didn't need to mitre the top or downtubes on these bikes. Any idea how many hours of work it saved in assembling a frame? Thanx.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA