Originally Posted by
juvela
wrt blades -
see the axle slot. it is pointing at a forward angle even with the top tube sloping downward. imagine how far forward it will be angled with the top tube horizontal. it is an almost universal convention to have the axle slots in the fork tips vertical on an assembled machine.
Interesting observation! But I'm not sure it's significant. Did they make front dropouts with a variety of different slot angles? The "Dukie" frame I had in my possession recently, dating to ca1934, had a similar fork bend, and the slots were angled similarly. So... I dunno. You may be right, of course, I'm just not sure yet.