Workmanship Woes...
02-26-26 | 10:38 AM
#26
Strong Walker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 616
From: Black Forest, Germany
Bikes: too many
I roll my eyes when I hear people mention that welding is easy...
It takes a very great deal of practice and constant attention to detail to get sound results, but there are few things in life so satisfying as making a professional level weld on a difficult job.
I can understand why this photo is one of your favorites.
It takes a very great deal of practice and constant attention to detail to get sound results, but there are few things in life so satisfying as making a professional level weld on a difficult job.
I can understand why this photo is one of your favorites.
but to be fair, we don't know anything about the motive, the budget, and the circumstances under which that builder was working and what the goal was. A
(lthough it is a bit hard to imagine what those might have been to justify a trainwreck like this
)
Last edited by martl; 02-26-26 at 10:42 AM.
02-26-26 | 02:13 PM
#28
Full Member
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 262
Likes: 631
From: PNW
Over the years, a few poorly made bikes have made their way into my little collection of vintage road bikes. The first one that I really noticed as poorly made was this Team Raleigh Record. One chain stay was about 1/4 inch longer than the other...
For what it is worth, I have two sets of long seat tube stickers to apply soon. Fingers crossed...
For what it is worth, I have two sets of long seat tube stickers to apply soon. Fingers crossed...
I bought one recently as a project.Compared to my Garlotti The craftsmanship looks really decent, the chrome is decent, the original paint and decals are roached. I haven't even rode it yet so who know;s I may hate it.
I painted the cutouts in the lugs with gold. I Can't get the paint to stick and will redo it with the original white accents.
02-26-26 | 02:14 PM
#29
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,562
Likes: 2,738
From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Not to mention several other components...
Including the cleanest steel rimmed Campy high flange hubbed wheel set ever to come my way. Even the steel spokes are, pretty much, uncorroded (wheels have not been cleaned yet)...
Anyway, can't wait for Spring. The snow is six feet deep in some parts of my back yard. Been a long time since I have seen such heavy snowfall in Thunder Bay.
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
03-30-26 | 10:56 AM
#30
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 199
Likes: 366
From: Laguna Beach, CA
Bikes: 1958 and 1966 Raleigh Sports, 1970 Raleigh Twenty, 1982 Univega Gran Turismo, 1980 Colnago Super, 1956 Raleigh Super Lenton
I thought of this thread while I was looking at the workmanship of this '62 Raleaigh Lenton Sports. Not to be confused with a "real" Lenton Sports from the 50's, these were basically like a Raleigh Sports 2030 tubed frame with a fancy paint job. The brazing and finishing is much worse than my '67 Raleigh Sports though. This bit on the fork really grates on my ocd.
03-30-26 | 10:58 AM
#31
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,123
Likes: 6,340
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
It could tempt you to strip the paint, clean up the brazing, and repaint it. But not really.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
03-30-26 | 04:49 PM
#32
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,562
Likes: 2,738
From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
I thought of this thread while I was looking at the workmanship of this '62 Raleaigh Lenton Sports. Not to be confused with a "real" Lenton Sports from the 50's, these were basically like a Raleigh Sports 2030 tubed frame with a fancy paint job. The brazing and finishing is much worse than my '67 Raleigh Sports though. This bit on the fork really grates on my ocd.
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
03-31-26 | 09:28 AM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 503
From: Elevation 666m Edmonton Canada
Bikes: 2013 Custom SA5w / Rohloff Tourster
WTF .... IF the drop out was longer on the defaileur side, then it was ON PURPOSE. They didn't have hangers invented yet.
But yah, ALL Raleighs SUCKED with chrome plated rust and oddball sizing of everything.
OTOH >> My 1973 CCM has ZERO issues and ZERO specks rust on the outside. The primer was outstandingly TOUGH too.
But yah, ALL Raleighs SUCKED with chrome plated rust and oddball sizing of everything.
OTOH >> My 1973 CCM has ZERO issues and ZERO specks rust on the outside. The primer was outstandingly TOUGH too.
03-31-26 | 02:52 PM
#34
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 199
Likes: 366
From: Laguna Beach, CA
Bikes: 1958 and 1966 Raleigh Sports, 1970 Raleigh Twenty, 1982 Univega Gran Turismo, 1980 Colnago Super, 1956 Raleigh Super Lenton
WTF .... IF the drop out was longer on the defaileur side, then it was ON PURPOSE. They didn't have hangers invented yet.
But yah, ALL Raleighs SUCKED with chrome plated rust and oddball sizing of everything.
OTOH >> My 1973 CCM has ZERO issues and ZERO specks rust on the outside. The primer was outstandingly TOUGH too.
But yah, ALL Raleighs SUCKED with chrome plated rust and oddball sizing of everything.
OTOH >> My 1973 CCM has ZERO issues and ZERO specks rust on the outside. The primer was outstandingly TOUGH too.
Other times you have to wonder about what they deemed acceptable. Here's a detail of my '71 Twenty.
03-31-26 | 03:51 PM
#35
Steel is real
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,465
Likes: 2,570
From: Not far from Paris
Bikes: 93GiantTourer,92MeridaAlbon,96Scapin,98KonaKilaueua,93Peugeot Prestige,05CasatiClipper,98Jamis Dragon,95Tange Prestige(to be built),98VettaTeam,95Coppi,93Grandis,Daccordi x3(in build),98Piton(in build),99Trek SLR2300
That is an interesting topic. I am very focused on craftsmanship but when a weld or a brazing isn't done cleanly or properly it then affects my confidence in the frame. I prefer a perfectly made frame rather than an averagely made frame with poor craftsmanship regarding welds or brazing on the the critical points.
