Bob Jackson is done again
 

A customer tried to order a frame yesterday, and the order was rejected. The email says that the buyers backed out. Dammit, 2021 seems to be more of the same
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6fe62ea329.jpg

Website is basically a one page thanks and we are done page.

And I had a back and forth about details with their guy Donald recently and have been staring at frame options... The new announcement couldn't be much clearer, though!

Bobjacksoncyles.co.uk

Dammit...

I bought a Bob Jackson in mid December and was waiting until the holidays were over to reach out and try to get the build date. I was afraid the request would get lost over the holidays. Sounds like I may never be able to confirm my suspicion on the date.

:(

Wonder how much it would cost to buy the tooling and name?

Maybe give them a shout. They might be willing to discuss.

From their reaction via e-mai to the website with about as simple an explanation, it appears they are not happy, and kind of grumpy about the entire process.

Another casualty in this troubling time. So sad to see this, the name will live on and those that worked there are hopefully going to keep the tradition in a lesser sense. It is odd that some are doing well in this economy and some aren't . Here in Southern California bike shops that are still here seem to be OK but we lost a few not too long ago. Many years ago I had an opportunity to get a frame in my size that was beautiful but I passed on the opportunity as I didn't know much about them at that time. I am still grieving the decision as the price was very good even for back then.

Took my Bob Jackson out today for a "memorial" ride. Hopefully it was premature and they will get a life-line. I have been involved in a couple Mergers and Aquisitions before. One of them completely unwound and everyone walked away, then have the deal close a week later.

This always brings up questioning my rationale and while I have backed off considerably, I normally took a leap of faith when I found something I thought wanted.

It paid off most of the time and I always tried to temper my expectations so the disappointments were lessened in the final analysis.

Any time the ask was and or seemed reasonable, I usually jumped, all of those worked out well.

Too bad about BJ, guess they will move up the want list now. ;)

DOH! :crash:

;)

that is sad!
I've got a Hetchins that was built under license by Bob Jackson in 1987. Wonderful bike!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...caf962_c_d.jpg

Steve in Peoria

Tx for rubbing it in, with a curly stay no less. :troll:

;)

looking at your list of bikes, I can't imagine that you were really looking for a Bob Jackson all that much? :)
I think the Bruce Gordon or DiNucci would be a bit more nicely built.
... but curly stays are pretty cool!!...

I wonder if someone is building Hetchins under license now? The ownership of the brand has moved around a bit since my frame was built.

It does raise the issue of who still builds traditional British steel bikes. I think Mercian is still in business?
Or.. there are plenty of builders in the USA who would build you a very nice frame too! (incl. Mr. DiNucci. I don't think he gets enough publicity)
Mark DiNucci had a cool unpainted frame on display at the 2015 NAHBS. I took a bunch of photos, and they show just how precise his work is. Amazing!

https://live.staticflickr.com/8715/1...9caea1_z_d.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/8649/1...6ced5d_z_d.jpg

Steve in Peoria (I have many more photos, but don't want to get too far off topic)

[MENTION=113466]steelbikeguy[/MENTION]

Tx, The DiNucci is a Strawberry from when he worked for Andy, is quite a bit rough but sound and my size so it will be ok if I ever get it done.

The Gordon is amazing even being a bit small, has some odd crit? geometry and was one of the bikes we used to suss out the new Strawberry that is also amazing thanx to Dave.

I have always been an English built fan and hold Hetchens, BJ, Holdsworth, etc. and even Raleigh in very high regard.

I'll find some more eventually. ;)

what a rollercoaster of drama. total shame to see they are back to closing.

Can’t help but wonder what the price tag would be for a niche bicycle manufacturer like this. Any blue sky value or do they simply try to get something for the inventory and assets.

I was at NAHBS in 2016 and he was there, I have always been a fan. He also worked for Merz along the way.
Jims frames have a bit less flourish but are every bit as precise under the paint, one collector stripped a frame for paint, had never seen one with all the excess braze filed/sanded away and had the frame clearcoated as was after being so stunned.

As I'm fond of saying, Merz, Newlands, DiNucci, no surprise PDX has been a framebuilding epicenter for a long time. ;)



It does raise the issue of who still builds traditional British steel bikes. I think Mercian is still in business?
Or.. there are plenty of builders in the USA who would build you a very nice frame too! (incl. Mr. DiNucci. I don't think he gets enough publicity)
Mark DiNucci had a cool unpainted frame on display at the 2015 NAHBS. I took a bunch of photos, and they show just how precise his work is. Amazing!

https://live.staticflickr.com/8715/1...9caea1_z_d.jpg

Just wandered through a post on a Carlton Facebook page and a fellow named Jamie Dyer made the following remark, which is rather upsetting if true... He references Donald, who was the one that wrote the email in the initial post here and probably the person anyone making an inquiry in recent years heard back from (including myself):

Wow... If new Bob Jackson's come from that shop, the whole shop should be shunned...

Yes, if the above is true and the Bob Jackson name returns under the ownership of the same people that just shut down the old shop, I will certainly not be purchasing a Bob Jackson under those circumstances. I also won't be purchasing a Woodrup for that matter!

I am not saying that there is not some, say, frustration if the above is correct. Also seems, some lawyer screwed up by not protecting the entire reason for the sale, which was (from the seller's standpoint) to continue the tradition. However, a couple of things:

• Bob Jackson was going to shut down previously. This was a move to in a way, save the brand.
• If the owners bought the brand, but are consolidating manufacturing in the a single location in the UK, well, of course it sucks from a traditionalist standpoint, but at least it is not going all Motobecan, and just re-badging Hi-Ten steel from Taiwan to sell via direct-to-consumer websites.
• Ultimately - if this was always the intention of the buyer, it was a bit snake-oil of them if they just wanted the brand to badge on their bikes. But I would at least see how this unfolds.

Here's mine, a vintage 1974 or 75. Thank you, Bob Jackson, for a lifetime of true, pure joy riding one of your bikes.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bd3480406d.jpg

Maybe it’s time to sell mine.

Plenty of other builders in the UK, which is the good news. Nobody I'm aware of with BJ's history building to order at those very attractive BJ prices. Also nobody I've seen that had online ordering sorted as well. All the tubing, lug, bz-on, paint, chrome, etc options you might want were all laid out and well-linked. My understanding is you'd hear back from Donald to confirm everything and sort out any details needing sorting. But, as old a fogey as I am, it was very neat to be able to put all that together online---to play with all those options and watch how the price changed. Barber pole? Click. Chrome chainstays? Click. Newvex lugs? Click. 853? Click. Yikes! What about 653? Click. Etc.

Mercian and Woodrup still building traditional steel, maybe the two most prominent larger-volume mfrs. But you'll be starting at US$1k+ instead of $600ish like BJ.

More small builders scattered about as well.

You might want to check the previous BJ threads here and elsewhere for leads.

I can only imagine how disappointing this must be for Jackson's prev owners and staff. Went from "whelp, time to retire..." to "OMG, somebody's throwing money at us to keep going!" to "The money's gone..." in the space of a couple of months.

Well, back in the day Bob Jackson bought the Merlin Brand and then eventually "killed" it. Is this Karma?

Not that I have any thing against Bob Jackson. I had one for years and loved it. It was just one of my smaller bikes and I traded it for a set of Eurus wheels with the plan do buy another one down the road someday.

Maybe if all of us lamenting their demise had also bought a new one from them they'd have stood a better chance staying alive? I know I drooled over a many an order on their site without ever actually pulling the trigger.

they will be remembered for nice paintwork and chrome.

Don't be surprised if Bikes Direct has a new "Bob Jackson" line in two or three years.

Mark denunciation is a fine artist who makes bike frames, but if you want a great English influenced frame in the US, try Jeff Lyon in Southern OR. I have assembled about a dozen Lyons and both owned and worked on Jacksons--US small builder frames are way better!