Originally Posted by
rydabent
Up thru most of the 80s if you bought a bike book, you were warned that a butt welded frame was junk. You needed to buy a lugged frame brazed or silver soldered at low temperature. The snobs basically said cyclist ride a lugged framed bikes, and the unwashed rode junk.
I don't think that had anything to do with the actual welds, and everything to do with bike snobbery and retro-grouchery.
I think the only mass produced bikes with actual butt welds were the Electro-forged Chicago Schwinns. Not considered a top line bicycle, but I think history has proven the strength of the welds. Otherwise, the frames during that time (the 80s) were most likely TIG welded. Tig welding has a long history in aircraft structures. It is a proven joining technique.