Chuck's custom bike
Fri, October 20, 2006 
I’m sure Chuck Schmidt will not mind if I share pictures of his pristine custom ‘dave moulton’ bike.
Built in 1983, Chuck is the original owner, and this is the original paint and chrome. A true hand built specimen, the concave seat stay caps for example, simply cut at an angle with a hacksaw, then filed with a large round file and an off cut of tubing fitted and brazed in place. Not measured but simply filed until they looked identical.
The rear brake bridge has a barrel shaped center boss that were custom made in a machine shop in England and I brought a supply of these with me when I moved to the US in 1979. The center boss was brazed to a piece of ½ inch diameter chrome-molly tubing, drilled to accept the brake bolt, then hand filed until it fit perfectly at the correct height and central between the seat stays.
Finally, the brake bridge re-enforcers were cut from a piece of steel tube. Shaped with a hand held belt sander; again not measured but shaped until they matched as a pair. Working in this fashion gave me great satisfaction, and means that this frame is unique.
Reader Comments (3)
In my humble opinion the Red Racer is the prettiest DM bicycle.
I remember asking DM why he didn't build a special bike for himself ?
He said he had to fill orders first.
If dave did build a special bike for himself, what would it look like ?
Beautiful work Dave! Stunning. One of the artisan's most enduring satisfactions must be knowing that his work will live on long after himself.