I guess I'm guilty. I restored a really horrible frame that was labeled a " Barry Hoban". I bought it for a very low price from the Baron in Eindhoven. He didn't misrepresent it. It had seen some seawater somehow, but when i t was stripped and media blasted the rust was minimal. I hated the graphics and the color, and since it had "Designed by Ernie Clements" stickers o n the frame, I surmised it was a frame from Falcon or less likely a Cleme nts. I had it painted an Imron Red and rebadged it as a Falcon. Yes, it' s a forgery...I'm a forger, but I can't present it as anything other than a rebadged Barry Hoban. I don't care. It will remain in my possession unti l my passing. I keep a diary of all my bikes, so whomever ends up with it years from now (Hopefully) will be informed. Frankly it's a lesser brand of frame,and I didn't drastically change the brand to a Quinn, Hobbs or Holdsworth, but the naked frame revealed actual care in building maybe I could have. All of the brazing and lugwork were very very good. I once rea d about an accomplished art forger that said; "Oh I'm really not that goo d. The really good ones are never caught". Obviously their work is so good that even experts can't tell.
Chris Van Scoyk
Ankeny, Iowa USA