Aftermarket frame welders

[Harry]

Id just love to weld like that, but my welding is like my singing.
NOT good 

Harry

[Lozza]

Rodger Titchmarsh and Ken Sprayson still do as good as job as any ever done.

[flower pot racing]

I remember Eric Cheney telling me he was taught to braze by an old woman that used to build Huricane fighters in the war!! I was taught by Miles Webb 35 years ago and I've nearly got the hang of it.

mmm yes not bad (!)
bit more practice and you'll just about be there........ (!!!!!!!)

[flower pot racing]

Original Rickmans = Brian Curtis who made alot of the frames whilst working in New Milton.

He then went onto HLs, then his own Curtis bikes and still does beautiful work to this day. 

The late great Pat French saw my Curtis Honda frame at our local platers and was all over it admiring the work.  When Pat French says something is good, you take note!

MRD frames (Pat French) or course beautiful and needs no introduction.  I once had a known bike builder stop at my place.  He could tell the Metisse I was building wasnt one of Pat's from 20 yards, just by the looking at the brazing ~ from 20 yards away!

Moving on from Pat is Mojo.  Mark worked with Pat for many years and often said that Mark's work was better than his ~ now that really is saying something. 

Mojo continue the tradition to this day.

There are other builders in the UK that build frames batches of 10.  (name is kept secret so people dont bother him with requests!!!!!)  His work is the equal of any.  Beautiful brazing, quality tubing with stunning details.  I will try and get some pics.

[flower pot racing]

Alan Brown in Bristol is well up there with the greats.  A true master craftsman if ever there was one.
Whilst he is not known for building frames that doesnt mean he couldnt and hasnt ~ becuase he has!  He really is the original one stop shop from wheel building, farbrication, engine building, you name it he does it and he does it very well.

Some of the best bits on my bike have been done by Alan.

I love going there and watching him work, hoping some of it may rub off on me!

[Marc.com]

Not all Japanese frames from the '60s had crappy welding.  Have a look at the welding on the rear shock bracket/gusset on my '69 F21M

Hey Ken looks like they used a different guy to Suzuki frames, Suzuki must have kept the good guys welding gas tanks. I am always blown away by guys who can gas weld alloy sheet.... that's heat control

[ksiderek]

Kin ell, this isn't my brazing Miles Webb did this. I did tack it together if that counts. Mine still loks likes pidgeon crap compared to Miles. If you ever fancy having a go, get yourself a gas flux tank. It makes thing 100% easier.

[firko]

Moving on from Pat is Mojo.  Mark worked with Pat for many years and often said that Mark's work was better than his ~ now that really is saying something.  Mojo continue the tradition to this day.

Klub Kevlar's esteemed Grand Poobah Frank Stanborough is currently building a drop dead gorgeous Mojo 'Harris Replica' framed Matchless G85CS. I visited Franks place on Thursday with the intention of taking some photos to post here but Frank banned me from doing so, stating that he wants to debut the bike in VMX Magazine prior to its race debut and didn't want to spoil the surprise. The workmanship by Mojo's Mark Jannick is nothing short of extraordinary and not wanting to hide such beautiful welding under layers of paint, Frank's had the frame powder coated in satin clear, giving it the 'au natural' look. Anyone who has ever had a good close look at Franks Manx Norton Metisse and incredibly trick NSU Sportmax powered Greeves will know that Frank is no slouch in engineering excellence himself. The bike features some amazing lateral thinking and innovation yet still maintains period integrity to appease the rule Nazis.

Mark Jannick is a young bloke with old world skills as the photos below of a Mojo 'Arthur Harris Replica' identical to Franks and both BSA replicas show. The unpainted look shown is how Franks bike will look underneath a sea of polished alloy and housing the highly modified Matchless motor (Frank is responsible for Glenn Evans rocket fast Australian Classic Dirt Track Championship winning Matchless Metisse engine, arguably the fastest pre 65 bike in Australia)
Mojo Arthur Harris Replica

Mojo BSA Gold Star Replica

Mojo BSA Victor GP replica

Mojo road bike clip on handlebars displaying Mark Jannicks extraordinary brazing skills.


http://www.mojomotorbikes.co.uk/aboutus.html

[Marc.com]

The Mojo Arthur Harris is something I would love but saving for new car right now for my repatriation.

[firko]

Here's a few more from the shed.
below: Eric Cheney was one of the best as shown here in a better shot of my Cheney steering head area. As neat as his welds are Harry Hindall and later Mojo have taken the old skill to new heights.
Derek and Don Rickman's work is considered to be amongst the best in the business. In the 70's Rickman moved up a notch from being a specialist frame maker to become mass producers with their Rickman Zundapp and Rickman Montesa high volume production runs. Because of the increased workload a production line was introduced and less exacting welding became the norm because of the time factor becoming a major priority. Whilst the welds were as strong and safe as ever, their appearance seemed to become less important as seen on my micro Metisse Zundapp frame.

Although this isn't a motorcycle, my aluminium framed mountain bike was made by American flat track legend Mert Lawwill using the same exacting TIG techniques used in the flat track motorcycle frames.

[bazza]

having seen Franks Mojo frame i can vouch the welding is f....n great and a work of art