BUILDER'S CARD
The foto below shows a typical builder's card. It shows frame details taken down in Alf's hand and supplemented by Jack. |
item |
explanation |
Order No. |
These match other documents in connection with the frame from initial order to the invoice. |
Out |
Filled in when the work was completed. |
Set Up |
This was not one of the standard models and so had to be specially 'set up' -- see R.R. below. |
R.R. |
Standard road racing models (frame geometry) would have been entered here, for example "2", "3", "4", "6", "10", etc. -- see the catalogs for explanations of these designations. |
Lugs |
"ECP" meant Experto Crede Pressed (there was also a cast version of the EC). |
Vibrant or Orthodox |
Curly or straight stays, the appropriate one was underlined. |
Frame & Wheel Sizes |
In inches of course; 26 inch wheels were still often ordered for racing frames as late as the 1950s. |
(Bottom) Bracket Height |
In this case, 11 inches. |
Head Clip or Expander |
This refers to the type of head set to be fitted. "Head Clip" meant the old style Chater Lea type head set (similar to the 'new' Aheadset design) with the bearing inside the head tube; "expander" meant the type with bearings external to the head tube and a lock ring (in this case, Campag). |
Head and Seat Tube Angles, Tube Centres |
These were fixed, along with the frame size (or seat tube length). "Front" and "Rear Centres" meant distances from the bottom bracket to the front and rear axles, respectively. Once these lengths were determined, the seat stay length had to be calculated from these parameters. |
Marginalia:
|
These items were added afterwards in Jack's hand. A few figures were crossed out (17", 18 3/8, etc.) -- this was Jack thinking out loud, how long to cut the stays, given the fixed lengths above (centres, bracket height, etc.). We can see that he eventually settled on a chain stay length of 15 inches and a seat stay length of 18 1/2 inches (not counting the top eyes) for this 'set up' frame. Builder's cards for standard models (see R.R. above) often show just two figures, no cross-outs -- the master simply knew from experience how long to cut the stays. |
Hub Widths, Front/Rear |
No entry meant industry standard (whatever that was at any given time). |
Fork Ends |
All industry standard dropouts were offered. |
Fork Round/Oval, Rake |
Particulars of the fork blades. |
Brazed Parts |
For mud guards, lamp bracket, pump, lever boss, tunnels (under the bottom bracket), brake stops and guides, etc., plus blank lines for any customer-specific items. This customer wanted eyes and guides for a gear changer, and brake stops (no guides) centered on the top tube. |
Finish |
Spraying and chroming particulars were specified. This customer wanted Titan Bronze Lustre, gold on the head tube, lugs lined gold, and his name on the top tube. |
Transfers |
"Script" or "block" referred to the down tube; "Olympic" referred to the seat tube; "badge only" meant no transfers. |
Frame and Fork No. H |
This was filled in when the frame was finished. |
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