This should be a very good bike as it belongs to Ray Etherton , the former owner of the rights to the Bates name. I think that the builder used by Ray was Ron Cooper..and we all know that he can string a good frame together.
I'm surprised that Ray has not put any more photos on the advert to show the lugwork. Are we supposed to assume ( I haven't read the full description) that the lugs are those extremely curley ones that Len Phipps cut for him?
Ray is also selling his Raleigh...so I wonder if he is giving up on biking..I know he keeps talking about moving to France..but that's all the more reason to have a bike, although the lanes in the part of the UK where he lives can provide lovely old-style riding.
Norris Lockley
Settle UK