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One of the classic british lightweight machines from the 1930's and , at least, into the 70's. Horace Bates Bicycles
are famous for their Reynolds proprietary "Cantiflex" tubes, which bulges outward in the center of the tube, and the "Diadrant"
double raked forks, one curve forward and one curve back. A truly eccentric and rare machine to find today.
They were made mostly with plain Chater-Lea key hole lugs during the pre war era, and Nervex or Waltho lugsets on
post war models. The line consisted of several models which included the B.A.R., Vegrandis, Ideal, and the New Club.
The Ideal had a conventional tubeset combined with the diadrant forks. They also produced the Grangewood tandem which
is an extremely rare machine.Ray Etherton, a member of the
Veterans Cycle Club and involved with Classic Bikes (see my links page), owns the rights to build the machines.
The modern machines are very nice and are built by Ron Cooper. I understand that he also has the Bates factory records.
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