Great television documentary about the bike building Taylor brothers called 'The Bike Brothers'. The documentary was produced by BBC North East in 1986.
I sat at that table and they gave me a cup of tea and a cherry bakewell. I suppose I was 14, and my dad took me along to get his old Taylor frame rebuilt for me to ride.
Tried finding this for ages without any luck. Suddenly here it is! Back then most large provincial towns had at least one guy building their own frames. School workshops taught all you needed to know. Unfortunately, the average guy hadn't a hope in hell to go on and do this. All the tools available were old, very second hand and worn out. And have your own brazing equipment? Even a regular blue collar job didn't pay more than subsistence wages, you worked long shifts 6 days a week, getting home cold and wet most days and absolutely knackered. If you were lucky, your mum was still feeding you. Happy days indeed.
I just took my '59 Taylor touring tandem out for a ride today. Lovely thing, that. Still going strong at 60 years of age, although Jack's beautiful box lining is a bit tatty. I can only hope I look so good at 60. I've ridden Santana, Raleigh, Schwinn Paramount, and Colin Laing tandems, but give me the Taylor any day. It climbs like none other and the comfort is unequaled.
TV of a type and style which, unfortunately, doesn't get made or valued these days. I discussed the making of this documentary with the Producer, Richard Else, who described it as one of his favourite works. He went on to say: "What's interesting about the film is that nothing was staged. I spent days with them before we started filming, so knew about every aspect of their day. The scene with their lunch and old electric stove was incredibly difficult to film - not because of the brothers but the crew couldn't stop laughing - it was such a comic event, yet it was the same day in, day out. When Prince Charles visited them after the film, he was scheduled to stay about 15 mins but was there over 90, I'm told. I very much think that was a golden era of documentary making and one sadly missed." Thank goodness that Richard did capture the Taylors at work for posterity.
I'm building a 1974 Jack Taylor Tour of Britain. This video is a great resource to remind me of the tradition of racing and quality that my Taylor represents.
Always remember their stand at the York Rally every year - usually at the far end of the enormous main marquee. My Mum thought about ordering one of their beautiful mixte frames - but was tempted by something else instead! Such a shame that more or less all of the UK's wonderfully skilled framebuilders have gone......sadly many younger riders think hand made frames were only made in Italy. Was Eric Robson the narrator of this film?
Thanks for posting it was brilliant to watch. I watched it when it was first broadcast and it makes you realise in the intervening years are cycles have developed as well. Ok far less traffic then but is cycling without a helmet so dangerous these days. Please do not delete as so many more people will appreciate it when they discover it.
Fantastic viewing on how bikes should be made. I am just starting out to make my own frame and have seen that many sites say you need a $800 this or a $3000 that to build a good frame. The Taylor brothers show all you need is the love and passion to be successful. Love the part where they use a string line for truing the frame and weights to hold down everything in place for welding, no expensive welding jigs here, just common sense and the KISS principal. Too many lost crafts in many aspects of manufacturing today. Thanks for sharing.
To answer a previous question,there is a dvd that features the brothers building (for a short time) a tv production - Bicycle originally from 1989,probably on vhs too
I GOT MYSELF A GREAT LOOKING TRACK FRAME FROM THESE GUYS BAcK IN THE EARLY 60'S.TROUBLE WAS THAT IT WAS TOO LONG IN THE WHEELBASE AND KEN AND i fell out. he was rapping on about the front wheel and the toeclip touch, when turning. he was not impressed when I pointed out that you-lean a bike into a corner, not turn the bars.I was just a kid and asked him to drill a hole in the fork crown, so I could fit a front brake and use it as a work bike.well the poor guy was furious with me,grabed the fork and without using a center pop-mark, just drilled a hole, willy nilly .now we were both upset. wish I still had that frame, it looked great with a nice red finish and the famouse box lining
These bikes will be around forever. Leave the carbon stuff to pros who don't have to pay. Some club riders are already beginning to return to steel - just as fast and totally repairable.
You couldn't tell a story like that about his stuttering today! But it was funny, although his accent is a but hard for me. People had more personality back then it seems like.
And it was, for a time not long after this was filmed. Shimano even made hubs with the 48 hole drilling through the '90s and into the early 2000s (HF07 and HF08), and MAVIC and Sun-Ringle made rims. These were original equipment on a lot of Santana and Co-Motion bikes in America.
MAKE A DECREE Daniel 6:26-27 There is never usually a testimony without testing. When we are delivered yet again by our Jesus we shouldn’t keep it secret. Make a decree. Announce every ounce of what He did. Make a decree. Saying in every way what He can do. Make a decree. He can do it for you, He did it for me.
Still laughing now about that stutter story! Brilliant video!
I sat at that table and they gave me a cup of tea and a cherry bakewell. I suppose I was 14, and my dad took me along to get his old Taylor frame rebuilt for me to ride.
That is a PRICELESS memory and i bet it was the best cuppa and bakewell you have ever had....
A genuine time for a genuine people. ☘️👏
I used to go to their factory when I was a kid on my Raleigh and watch them create magic. Fascinating gentlemen.
Tried finding this for ages without any luck. Suddenly here it is! Back then most large provincial towns had at least one guy building their own frames. School workshops taught all you needed to know. Unfortunately, the average guy hadn't a hope in hell to go on and do this. All the tools available were old, very second hand and worn out. And have your own brazing equipment? Even a regular blue collar job didn't pay more than subsistence wages, you worked long shifts 6 days a week, getting home cold and wet most days and absolutely knackered. If you were lucky, your mum was still feeding you. Happy days indeed.
The fact four people didn't like this video gives me no hope in humanity whatsoever.
Never seen the pin striping tool being used, as an ex graphic artist I found that fascinating. Now I want one!
I just took my '59 Taylor touring tandem out for a ride today. Lovely thing, that. Still going strong at 60 years of age, although Jack's beautiful box lining is a bit tatty. I can only hope I look so good at 60. I've ridden Santana, Raleigh, Schwinn Paramount, and Colin Laing tandems, but give me the Taylor any day. It climbs like none other and the comfort is unequaled.
TV of a type and style which, unfortunately, doesn't get made or valued these days. I discussed the making of this documentary with the Producer, Richard Else, who described it as one of his favourite works. He went on to say: "What's interesting about the film is that nothing was staged. I spent days with them before we started filming, so knew about every aspect of their day. The scene with their lunch and old electric stove was incredibly difficult to film - not because of the brothers but the crew couldn't stop laughing - it was such a comic event, yet it was the same day in, day out. When Prince Charles visited them after the film, he was scheduled to stay about 15 mins but was there over 90, I'm told. I very much think that was a golden era of documentary making and one sadly missed." Thank goodness that Richard did capture the Taylors at work for posterity.
Never heard of these builders before a blast from the past.
I'm building a 1974 Jack Taylor Tour of Britain. This video is a great resource to remind me of the tradition of racing and quality that my Taylor represents.
The 'tool' asked about above is called the Beugler pin-striping tool. Still made and still available. eBay has them quite often.
Always remember their stand at the York Rally every year - usually at the far end of the enormous main marquee. My Mum thought about ordering one of their beautiful mixte frames - but was tempted by something else instead! Such a shame that more or less all of the UK's wonderfully skilled framebuilders have gone......sadly many younger riders think hand made frames were only made in Italy. Was Eric Robson the narrator of this film?
Yes. He is credited at the end.
love the old english hand built quality, amazing. Cheers from the US!
these men were tougher than today's riders by far ! brilliant stuff. thanks for the upload !
three of the greatest names in British cycling construction
Wonderful footage - To be treasured !
I agree. What a gem of a video! We'll never see their like again.
Absolutely wonderful.
Thanks for posting it was brilliant to watch. I watched it when it was first broadcast and it makes you realise in the intervening years are cycles have developed as well.
Ok far less traffic then but is cycling without a helmet so dangerous these days. Please do not delete as so many more people will appreciate it when they discover it.
Fantastic viewing on how bikes should be made. I am just starting out to make my own frame and have seen that many sites say you need a $800 this or a $3000 that to build a good frame. The Taylor brothers show all you need is the love and passion to be successful. Love the part where they use a string line for truing the frame and weights to hold down everything in place for welding, no expensive welding jigs here, just common sense and the KISS principal. Too many lost crafts in many aspects of manufacturing today. Thanks for sharing.
I think if you took a random selection of 100 bikes today you would be lucky to get one in perfect alignment.
I had a jack taylor toure of Britain, old English transfers on, the frame cost £19, SIX weeks wages, in 1962.
That would be about £4000 now!
That was lovely.
Thanks much.
2:28 the legendary Bill Baty. They were hardcore back then 👍🏼
To answer a previous question,there is a dvd that features the brothers building (for a short time) a tv production - Bicycle originally from 1989,probably on vhs too
What a treat! Thank you.😅
Thank you
I search it and look for it.
Cheers, enjoyed watching this
Nic...thanks a ton for sharing this with us....
love that video excellent.
love it. thanks.
WHY is this excellent video NOT available on DVD
amazing!
Yes, they are the MAVIC twin cable levers to operate 2 brakes at the same time, cheers, Nic
MAFAC
I GOT MYSELF A GREAT LOOKING TRACK FRAME FROM THESE GUYS BAcK IN THE EARLY 60'S.TROUBLE WAS THAT IT WAS TOO LONG IN THE WHEELBASE AND KEN AND i fell out. he was rapping on about the front wheel and the toeclip touch, when turning. he was not impressed when I pointed out that you-lean a bike into a corner, not turn the bars.I was just a kid and asked him to drill a hole in the fork crown, so I could fit a front brake and use it as a work bike.well the poor guy was furious with me,grabed the fork and without using a center pop-mark, just drilled a hole, willy nilly .now we were both upset. wish I still had that frame, it looked great with a nice red finish and the famouse box lining
Fantastic short documentary.........We rode those bikes with overlap.....terrible...
excellent
lovely video...subscribed.
Modern film makers have a lot to learn from films like this!
❤️👏👏🙏🇧🇷🙏👏👏❤️
At 1:04, we catch a glimpse of the oddest derailleur (/chain tensioner?) I've ever seen.
VERY early one. 1940s to 1950's and definitely pre-Campagnolo
That's an Osgear Super Champion.
These bikes will be around forever.
Leave the carbon stuff to pros who don't have to pay.
Some club riders are already beginning to return to steel - just as fast and totally repairable.
21:26. I know the guy on the right is Bill Baty, but is the guy on the left his brother Norman?
Yes, it is.
Unmarried... (Still riding every weekend) hahaha
Theyv gone bezerk! 13 on the back now 😉
You couldn't tell a story like that about his stuttering today! But it was funny, although his accent is a but hard for me. People had more personality back then it seems like.
11:05 - 2 cables coming from the left brake?
8:21 In a few years 48 holes will be standard practice for Tandems hahahaha!!!!! Classic prediction...
And it was, for a time not long after this was filmed. Shimano even made hubs with the 48 hole drilling through the '90s and into the early 2000s (HF07 and HF08), and MAVIC and Sun-Ringle made rims. These were original equipment on a lot of Santana and Co-Motion bikes in America.
If they didnt like the new bikes back then they would be rolling in their graves nowadays
Not quite sure what you mean!
its a striping wheel
Did you notice most of these Brits ride on the wrong side of the road!!
MAKE A DECREE Daniel 6:26-27
There is never usually a testimony without testing. When we are delivered yet again by our Jesus we shouldn’t keep it secret. Make a decree. Announce every ounce of what He did. Make a decree. Saying in every way what He can do. Make a decree. He can do it for you, He did it for me.
what does your comment have to do with the video?
God rides a Taylor bike I guess 🚲👍
I myself have a tandem that has the 2 brakes on one lever, and a drum brake on the second.