California Bicycle Museum

The period from approximately 1980 to 2000 was a turning point in the materials used in bicycle frames. During this period, lightweight steel was continually refined to be lighter and stronger, while still maintaining excellent riding characteristics and durability. Also during this period, new materials including aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber gained respectable acceptance among cycling consumers. During this period, manufacturing improvements in these new materials resulted in frames with consistent performance advantages, and now steel frames are rarely used by professional racing cyclists.

This pre-World War II frame was built in Australia as a shop display to demonstrate the technique of pinning the frame tubing and lugs together to hold them in place during the brazing process. Most steel bicycle frames are made in a similar manner. The main tubing pieces are inserted and brazed into “lugs” which form high-strength joints at the points of greatest stress on the frame.

Manufacturer: Morton

Location: Australia

Private Party

On loan to California Bicycle Museum