Frank Lipscombe - the "Compacta" folders
Peter Underwood and John SpoonerJohn
Spooner, who features in our Classic Builders section, has recently
acquired a pair of these very rare Lipscombe 'Compacta' folding
lightweight machines. They must have been amongst the very first
folding bikes built as lightweights, even to the extent of having 20"
sprint wheels with tubular tyres. It is assumed that the
wheels were
imported from Italy where small sprint wheels of 20" and 24" were used
on Junior racing bikes.
Originally the folders were thought to have been built by Frank Lipscombe for himself and his wife Rita to use on holidays, and to be the only two built. However, Rita Lipscombe has explained that there were about twelve of these machines built to order, specifically for customers.
Originally the folders were thought to have been built by Frank Lipscombe for himself and his wife Rita to use on holidays, and to be the only two built. However, Rita Lipscombe has explained that there were about twelve of these machines built to order, specifically for customers.
The cycles 'hinge' in
the middle
and the two sections are locked by three
adapted quick-release levers operating through the hinged plates which
are brazed on the the ends of
the junction of the main tubes where they split (see image below). The
two levers, one above the other, hold the plates together and the third
at the bottom stops the frame from folding like a jackknife when
under pressure from hard riding, maybe not necessary if the plates were
thicker - but then they would be much heavier.
The Compactas are built up with classic lightweight components: the unusual stem looks like a Merkens droopy lapped stem with the lapping unbrazed and then re-brazed the other way round (front to back to get the correct angle) and also inverted to raise instead of 'droop'.
The Compactas are built up with classic lightweight components: the unusual stem looks like a Merkens droopy lapped stem with the lapping unbrazed and then re-brazed the other way round (front to back to get the correct angle) and also inverted to raise instead of 'droop'.
The large TA
chainring is to
compensate for the small diameter wheels.
The frames are numbered 6633 and 07001(pictured on this page). If the
number 6633 was the first, followed by 07001
and the first '0' of this number discounted, it would suggest some 368
frames built between. The last (and second) owner thought that they
were built in the mid-sixties.
John is now looking for a source of 20" tubulars - are they still used in Italy does anyone know?
John is now looking for a source of 20" tubulars - are they still used in Italy does anyone know?
 Reinforcing ring brazed at top
and bottom
of the headtube |
 Frank Lipscombe headbadge on the
folders
|
Thanks to Frank's wife Rita and his daughter Pam for background information on these unique machines