Re: Re:
brocklanders023":sew65cd7 said:
What are your thoughts that it may even be a Tushingham frame that got re-branded after the change over mate?
As for value of this bike. In my opinion if the buyer got it for less that £600 they've done well. With better pictures or a viewing to confirm condition I could have seen it push 1k on a good day with enough committed bidders.
I think it could be more than a possibility, it would explain the subtle tweeks, like the stem and the front brake positioning, just these two small tweeks and the colour change, enough to morph the flagship Tushingham to the Flagship Orange. It was called a Works Replica, I guess there is a reason for this too.
I did email, Lester, Roger and Dave Yates, but as yet haven't got anywhere.
Its a crying shame the British never recorded its history like the Americans.
But I guess this is a small part of the history, and with so much going on at the time and new companies coming to market and trying to forge a path for themselves, its no surprise cards were played so close to there chests.
When you have companies like Overburys who dominated the early part of the Sport, building frames by hand one at a time, then a young upstart comes along with a bright idea and outsources to the Far east and to other UK companies for the higher end handbuilt stuff like M Steel, TWG. Even looking at the press releases, it states designed by Lester Noble handbuilt by the finest uk frame builder, and yet doesn't state who.
this is all reinforced by adverts and press releases, (Overburys, Tushingham, Orange). For Lester it was a hobby, turned into a business, shillings and pence, profit and loss, a passion for sure, but unlike Overburys he wasn't a frame builder, and did rely on others to ensure the Quality he wanted.)
I appreciate it was stated in the Press that Wade handbuilt the later black formulas, but it was rumoured at the time this wasn't actually the case. (aside from perhaps the first). The man hours and the set up costs to build such a small run of frames suggested it wasn't viable and was still outsourced even at this point, rumour or fact, we will never get to the bottom of it, the magazine propaganda said it, so it must be true.
This is still going on today, you only have to look at Fat Chance and its revival, yes he can hold a torch, but he isn't building the frames.
for many, building bicycles is a passion and a skill, an art if you like, but its still a business, and it has to show a profit, back then and even today marketing plays a huge role in a companies success, if you can capture the hearts and minds of the consumer, the orders will come in. Orange succeeded where others failed.
I guess those early secrets may always remain just that,....secrets.