Soens anti whip frame

[ayerzee]

Hello, I am new to the site so forgive if this question has been asked before, or I do something wrong as my IT skills are limited!
I recently acquired the Soens frame which I hope to attach to this post, I would appreciate your comments on it's history or contact details of a person who may have information.
I plan to build the bike up to it original condition so help/advice would be appreciated.
I look forward to your replies.

 

[biggs682]

Ooh nice I have seen same design on Spend made tandems before but not road bikes.

 

[biggs682]

@BillSoens use to pop on here from time to time but not seen since Nov 2016

 

[GuyBoden]

Merseyside Bicycles has a blog.
http://merseysidebicycles.blogspot.co.uk/2016/

Eddie Soens?

 

[biggs682]

@ayerzee feel free to pop a picture and some comments on my facebook page In Appreciation of Merseyside bikes

 

[ayerzee]

yes GuyBoden, I presume so , see attached photo

 

[martin160bikebike]

I thought you may be interested in seeing a photo of a similar Jim Soens bike with anti-whip frame. It was built for a friend’s brother, Eric Edwards, who was a serious racing enthusiast. I understand that the bike originally was fitted with bamboo rims with the tyres taped on. How accurate this is I can’t say.

 

[biggs682]

@martin160bikebike does he still have it ?

i wonder how many others are about ?

 

[biggs682]

@ayerzee see this comment below that William (Bill) Soens made on my facebook page In Appreciation of Merseyside Bikes where i posted a picture of your frame hope you dont mind

"This frame was built by Jim Soens and I estimate it to be between 1945-50 - could even be during the war. Tubing at that time was not of the quality of later equipment and was hard to get hold of anyway. This would have been a contributory factor to the twin down tubes."
"It wasn't as rigid and frames tended to flex a bit. The additional tube from the down tube via the seat tube to the rear stay was intended to improve this and there can be no doubt that it would have added an additional bit of rigidity. Whether it was necessary is a matter of opinion."
"Jim Soens built his frames from 58 Lower Breck Rd. Liverpool L6 from about 1936 until Peter Matthews took over in the 70's I think. His shop is not to be confused with the Eddie Soens shop in Boaler St, (which I ran) and Soens Bros in Prescot Rd. All were independent of each other. "
"Jim Soens built all his own frames, as did I "


Its a lot earlier that i suspected

 

[dan_bo]

Wow. Rarer than a rare breed hen's wisdom teeth.

 

[fossyant]

Wow. Rarer than a rare breed hen's wisdom teeth.

What Dan said. Keep it. It's rare, very rare.

 

[fossyant]

Build it up with period parts.. Lovely bit of kit.

 

[dan_bo]

Build it up with period parts.. Lovely bit of kit.

Nah 404s and a one piece bar with some Di2 n that. Mint.

 

[Drago]

That'd be like drawing Raybans on the Mona Lisa!

 

[Alan O]

Jim Soens built his frames from 58 Lower Breck Rd. Liverpool L6 from about 1936 until Peter Matthews took over in the 70's I think.

Ah, I remember that shop well - my Dad was a regular customer there when Jim Soens had it, and I was after Pete Matthews had taken over. Happy days.