While visiting the Taylors in 04, I asked Norman about the trailers. He told me that they were the toughest cycling item that he ever built. In fact, the one they copied was at Norman's house while I was there, also took some photos of it. There are lots of hard bends, on these and I guess it was difficult getting all that right. I can't remember where I heard it, but one of the Taylors, maybe Ken, was visiting the Frenchman that built the trailer, he told Ken, "When you get some built, I would love to buy a few, I can't stand to build them" Now, I may stand corrected on this, but I heard it from them or maybe Dave Radmore, I just don't recall. I bought mine my trailer just as they were closing the works. Jack had two NOS in the shipping box. I bought one and the other went to a fellow just south of the Bay area of CA. Mine is silver with box lines, the other was red as I recall. Then Norm built a few, not sure how many when he was working at Greta Lane. There were none there in O4, just the French made one, and it was just the frame. Also, I have one of Jack's box lining tools, I plan to bring it to the Expo in March. It's not for sale, Bruce, but I will let you hold it. This past year I had a builder in the Seattle area make me a Jack Taylor "look-a-like" rear carrier. He had a sample to work with, and it looks just as if Norman had made it up, he did a great job. Spectrum paint works of Colorado Springs matched the paint perfectly. I also picked one up on British ebay about 2 months ago, it wasn't cheap, someone else wanted it too. To my door $125. It just so happened a British gent crashed his tandem and it was un-repairable. So he sold the rear carrier, I mailed him asking for the front, we haven't closed that deal yet.
The Expo will be fun, for all us Jack Taylor Bicycle guys.
Michael Thompson
Monroe, Louisiana
aka "meauxtown"