Rondinella - Vic Edwards
Author: David Martin
Vic
Edwards built his frames in a small workshop in Crow Lane, Romford,
Essex. He built under the name of Rondinella which is Italian
for
Swallow. I think Vic operated in this way in the
seventies
to mid to late eighties until sadly a stroke rendered him unable to
work. He had an assistant called Stan Broom who filed his lugs and was a local time-triallist in the Becontree Wheelers. Stan always looked in agony even at the start and Vic ribbed him often about his style.
The
Rondinella pictured was the last but one frame he
built. It was incomplete and
needed the headset
fitted and Vic insisted his wife took it to only one other
framebuilder: I believe it may have been Brian Rourke. The
last
frame required even more work and I believe was finished by the same
person. He was also building a
tandem for some local riders who were to make some sort of record
attempt but I'm not sure what happened to this.All Vic’s frames were enamelled by a firm called Bromar at Gallows Corner also in Romford. Prior to having his own business Vic worked for other famous frame builders: these included Hobbs of Barbican, where he told me he built a considerable number of Blue Riband frames, Alf Hetchins, E G Bates and for Monty at Condor. He was both a highly skilled framebuilder and a very good wheelbuilder.
Dave Martin ( email: causio1866(at)tiscali(dot)co(dot)uk ) would like to build up a biography on Vic Edwards and perhaps create a register of machines so he would like any information he can get from owners or viewers who have knowledge which will help him. Dave says that when Vic died he was survived his wife named Doreen who he knows was keen on horses but he has been unable to locate her.
Martin Scott, Hainault Roads Club relates:
It is
with interest that I've read your feature about Vic Edwards Rondinella
cycles on the classic lightweights website. I remember Vic as
a very knowledgeable and likeable craftsman. I still have 2 of his
frames, the number of one being RO79238. If I recall correctly
all of Vic's frames (apart from a 'budget' range - pretty much
standard build with lower quality lugs) were numbered with
the first 2 numbers being the year of production; Thus my frame was
built in 1979, and was frame number 238. I suspect
the last 3 numbers just ran on from year to year ie. there
wouldn't be a frame 80238, but am unsure - it would be nice to
know, and would give an idea of total production. My second
frame is one of the budget ones and starts with the frame seat tube
size 22.
Could
it be that Dave Martin's frame is RO83355 ?? I believe that although
Vic was producing under the Rondinella brand name, that he continued to
build frames for others including Condor. I recall Vic being very proud
od being granted the certificate to build 753 frames by Reynolds, and
building the 753 frame that Bob Cary? rode in the Tour of Britain
(Badged as a Raleigh).
Matt
Stokes adds : "I have just found your site
through a link on the North Bucks Road Club website. So
I had a browse at the Rondinella page by David Martin. In this he
mentions a tandem built for record attempts. I think 3 were
built. I have the first one of the three, I think, which
featured
in Cycling Weekly
in 1978 and have the articles. I bought it
from Rina Brown of our club in late August last year and used
it
in three local 10m time-trials.
But in the meantime, please find attached a picture of
the tandem late last year in full flight on the way to a 21.06 in the
Bicester Millenium 10 at Weston-on-the-Green near Oxford, beating
several 20 minute men by about 1m 20s to 1m 30s (not bad for 2 old
blokes, I'm 44 and my stoker is 38).
There is 62 tooth ring on the back although Rina told
me they used to use a 67 tooth one, for a top gear of 145.
The frame is still in the original colours at the
moment although I am considering getting it resprayed and getting
replacement stickers at the end of the season. This year will
see an upgrade of the bolt-on components, aero seatpins, lower
tri-bars, and new disc and trispoke front wheel, and new campag record
rear mech, but I will keep all the old Campag quill pedals, Nuovo
Record rear mech etc. For earlier information on the
Rondinella tandem see Reader's Bikes > Rodinella
tandem 1978
Still going strong (and fast)
Matt Stokes on the updated Rondinella tandem
Below are two scans from the article in Cycling Weekly dated November 11th 1978, page 23. referring to the tandem above:
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 Click on images to enlarge The mention of super-light models in aluminium refers to another builder's solo machine also tested |
Vic Edwards split seat tube Rondinella
This frame number RO 82327 was made in 1982 we think. It is one of only two that Vic made of this type. The frame is very light, the head tube and the short seat tube being of remarkably thin walled tubing. The following show the split seat tube in better detail:
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