there was a recent thread on the CR list
re bi-laminated frame construction. here
are some of my replys to various posts:


who are we kidding here. what is the rationale in adding
these ornaments? the manly thing would have been to
own up to the fact that lugs(s) didn't exist to make the
particular frame geometry so builder used a bronze
welded joint. imo, the amount of extra heat needed to
add the details would detract from the integrity of the
joint - unless really REALLY heavy guage pipes were used.
could this explain why this type of joint is uncommon?
e-RICHIE
________
the question is why add lug-like features to a bronze-welded
joint? what is the risk-reward ratio in applying the extra heat
just for the sake of creating a faux-lug joint?
e-RICHIE
________
i was asked, "Is there any evidence that frames constructed
in this manner are worse than frames not made this way?"
my reply:
define "worse". that also is a question of esthetics.
will employing this technique lead to a failure? i doubt
it. is a builder responsible for creating art? prolly. is a
bronze welded joint so lacking in style that it needs an
added decoration to get a crowd formed around it? i
think the builders from "that" era must have thought so.
e-RICHIE
________
just for the record, i think the discussion has centered
around the definition of bi-lams being adornments-cum-
reinforcements that were added to a fillet brazed joint
to give it a faux lug appearance. imr, that's how this began.
now - i'm not a history buff, so i will ask: did the builders of
bronze welded frames in gb add these to their frames to
create the illusion that it was a lug-ish joint because they
didn't want to leave "just the fillet", or did they add them
under the assumption that a fillet-ed joint wasn't strong
enough and the bi-lams would bring it up to spec?
e-RICHIE
________
please leave me out of the rohe stuff because i didn't
cite him or architecture. what i do know is this: the
decorations that comprise this "bi-lam" thread are add-ons
that serve to deceive the eye - or imply - that it is not
simply a bronze welded joint, but one that seems lug-ish. for
the record, i don't have an opinion on fleurs-de-lis, assymetrical
lug shorelines, outrageous cutouts, or anything like that. my
opinion here is centered around the decision to add heat to the
joint (!!!!!) so that a plain one turns into a less-plain one.
take the extra heat out of the equation and i wouldn't have
an opinion.
e-RICHIE