Dan Shotton Frame - NE1 know anything about this builder ?

[dvines]

I've just bought a 2nd hand Dan Shotton touring frame off of Ebay...

I have never heard of this builder except from the seller saying it was near the Bristol area, and the guy no longer builds (retired ?)

it is a touring frame, with cantilever bosses, and all braze-ons, I would estimate early 80's - it has long spearpoint lugs with window cutouts, and is 531ST, with campag dropouts and a fork-crown with reinforcing tangs down the inside of the blades.

Does anyone know anything about the builder, and what sort of quality work he produced.. - ( I only paid £75..... )

 

[GeoSpectrum]

Dan Shotton

I recall him starting up sometime in the late 70's I was a Argos rider so didnt take a lot of notice, sorry! Definitely Bristol though.

 

[vinylosaur]

Hi

I was at the Bower Ashton campus of the (then) Bristol Polytechnic, studying Three-Dimensional Design in the Construction Department, with Danny Shotton. I was there between 1976 and 1980, and his exact contemporary. Danny spent his time on the course designing and building all the jigs and machinery he needed to establish himself as a frame builder, and a good number of us in the Construction Dept (we were bicycle-mad!) benefited as recipients of his first attempts at frame-building. His degree show was extremely impressive, and he gained a first-class hons qualification.

In my view he was a 'natural' when it came to working with metal. The quality of his construction was superlative from the word go - even his very first frames were beautifully assembled and a delight to ride. After graduation he set up a small workshop in (if I remember correctly) Dove Street, Kingsdown, Bristol. I think he continued to make frames for six or seven years or so before suddenly deciding he wanted to be a farmer. I think he then spent a spell in Ireland doing just that - I lost touch with him at this point, and have no idea what he is doing now.

I own 2 DS frames - a 531 tourer which I use everyday for commuting between Bristol and Bath, and a 753 racing frame, currently off the road. I love them both and feel somewhat privileged to have known Danny at the very start of his bicycle-making career. He did not make a great many frames - consider yourself lucky to have picked one up. How are you getting on with it?

Hope this is helpful...

 

[flash]

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... 69#1270369

I also may have one..........