unworthy1

Heard via the CR list, and confirmed by a local framebulder (Kevin Sayles) who lives nearby and got his start building there:
"I'm afraid it is true Norris, and all, Jackson's will be closing more
than likely before the end of this year."
End of a long era, in Yorkshire and beyond!

On a slightly brighter note American Cyclery, In San Francisco, is back in business on Stanyan/Frederick St. and having a sale on pumps. Guess the move to Pacifica is "not a thing".

pcb 

Sad to see them close, if indeed that's what happens. I don't doubt Kevin Sayles' account at all, I just don't want to call it a done deed until Jackson's announces it themselves. I want to be stupidly optimistic that the situation could somehow change.

If you haven't looked before, Jackson's been building "Off The Peg" made-to-order frames, with a wide range of options available, easily clickable through their website. Off the peg meaning you can specify a whole bunch of stuff, like tubing and lugs and braze-ons and tire clearances and paint/finish options, but not custom geometry.

Pricing is considerably lower than Mercian, the other big-name small-volume British builder, at least if you don't add on a lot of options. Base pricing for most of the frames is US$650-$800, with the curly-stayed Vulcan frames costing more.

I know a fella in the US who ordered a Vigorelli fixed/road frame just before covid lockdowns in the UK, and despite all that he got his frame in maybe 6-8wks?

I clicked through on a similar frame for myself, and drove that $650 base price pretty close to $1k, with some tubing upgrades, extra bz-ons, and a barber pole seat tube. Gotta have a barber pole on a new BoJack. I'm supposed to be in n-tons mode, though, so I didn't click on the "Order" button. Still, it was a lot of frame for $1k.

It looks like the order function is still active on their website, but I don't know whether they're still actively taking orders.

Them who hesitate get no new BoJack...

John E

This may be a trend. Harald Cap has greatly downsized the Capo business he inherited from his father, including abandoning the storefront and retreating to a room in a Vienna apartment building across the street, and I believe he is mostly pursuing his first love of custom-designed bicycles.

Kilroy1988 

Interesting, as since Bob Jackson has reopened after a closure due to COVID-19, they have already needed to put up banners on their website to let potential customers know that they are too busy to accommodate more custom work at the moment, and it's been a while since things have been slow enough for them to even consider custom frame making beyond their "off-the-peg" specifications. My impression has been that they're doing quite well!

-Gregory

nickyb

I Called them today. It's purely retirement. They have sold the building. Best wishes to them all.

RobbieTunes

I like mine a lot, 531 Pro, decals say "Limited Edition" but I don't have a clue what that means.
Rides "lighter" than it actually is, and climbs well using 9sp DA.
Seems every time I ride it, someone would say "They still make them, right?"
I guess no more.

Here with 2x6 DA
Does this mean we're all BoJack Horsemen?

Narhay

All things considered the frame prices are actually quite reasonable. The repaint prices are also quite good.

Johno59

Very sad news. I only learnt last year that he was still going. I believe they've been selling imported frames for a while and little to nil custom jobs.
Woodrup of Leeds is still going but they will fix/build just about any kind of bike - for a price.
A lot of old school builders went the imported frame avenue before going under. Clearly it's not the answer.
So sad - for a while BJ even made Hetchins. Damn shame

Gary Fountain

Time beats us all. Best wishes for retirement. I valued my Bob Jackson; a great bike.

Nemosengineer 

Well that's not good news, Bob Jackson cycles has served me well, I have a World Tour with Aerohead lugs, in September I ordered a Audax Club in full Reynolds 853 OS tubes and fork blades, with the rear triangle in 725, assembled in Newvex lugs. I'm glad I went over the top in options for this frame since there won't be anymore.
Bob Jackson was always a great value and the workmanship has always been excellent on the semi custom frames they have built for me. Donald less than a week ago sent me some in work photos of the Audax Club frame and fork, all that's left is downtube shifter bosses and the usual braze ons, final cleanup then off to the paint shop for Team Lotus colours.

Newvex 2 by nemosengineer, on Flickr

Newvex by nemosengineer, on Flickr

: Mike

unworthy1

Here's an update from today's CR list from a member:

"The Bob Jackson website is not quite up-to-date.

I just contacted Donald Thomas, the current owner, and he said that they
got a flood of orders when word got out that they were closing -- enough to
keep them very busy through the end of the year. They are planning to close
the doors before Christmas - so he said they will not be taking any new
orders. Their plan is to finish the orders they have, then make a new bike
for each of the workers left - then close the doors for good"

So if you work at BJ you have a new bike coming, and then "no more"

Kilroy1988 

The official website announcement has been made. As a young man, I suppose I have not had the chance to fully appreciate what such a missed opportunity means... Now I know that I cannot bide my time before ordering a Mercian Vincitore, as that would be another dream that may slip through my grasp if the winds of change to blow!

Good luck to all of those who were involved with Bob Jackson, and thank you for building many fine cycles over the years!

Bob Jackson Cycles | Crafted Bicycle Frame Building Since 1935

repechage

I owned one long long ago.
Around 1986, they looked... troubled.
from the history it appears that things were set on a better path.
It does appear that they tried to provide good value throughout.

TugaDude

FWIW, anything "off the peg" is not subject to customization. The whole idea is it is hanging on the peg and you buy it "as-is", or not.

Kilroy1988 

Technically, yes, but it was actually a poor choice of term on Bob Jackson's part because that's not how it worked there. Their "off-the-peg" frames were merely limited in the amount of customization that could be done based on parameters set in the order sheets. There were not hundreds of frames sitting around the shop in every size with every lug and brazing and paint option already applied. They were built to order based on set (but optioned) specifications.

Trakhak

Their approach can probably be likened to selling an off-the-peg suit that is then meant to be altered to fit the customer versus a fully customized/bespoke suit.

RobbieTunes

Whatever “off the peg” means.
Or bespoke.
Or semi-custom.
It’s all contextual, and relative, and individual,

I have my Bob Jackson.
Cool bike. Rides well.
“They don’t make them any more.”

Thanks, bigbossman

Take a week-deserved rest in Leeds, lads.

bikingshearer 

I recall that, at some point, Bob Jackson (the man) retired, things sort of went to hell at Bob Jackson (the shop) and he came back at set it to rights. I do not recall when that was, but mid-1980s does not sound obviously wrong. In any event, Bob Jackson (the man) died in 1998. Bob Jackson (the shop) had a good run. Sorry to see them go.

They did have a problem with buggered BB threads in the early 1970s (I owned one - it required a Phil Wood bottom bracket and red Loctite), but that got sorted out That Jackson was my first good frame and my first big purchase from my first job put of high school. I built it up with the kind of hodge-podge of components that only a broke teenager can assemble. It served me well until it was stolen out of my garage c.1992. I have fond memories of that bike and its gorgeous red with white panels paint. I still wish evil things on the %*&*^#^ who stole it.

repechage

A Phil bottom bracket solved my frame's troubles too.
The infamous mid 70's Bob Jackson squished bottom brackets.
I talked to Bob in 1974 when he came by the shop for which I worked.
He did admit that the lads may have squeezed them in a vise too tight.
We did discuss a new pair of bikes. He suggested remind him of our conversation and he would use the new Roto investment cast shells in the frames.
I ordered a Masi Sprint bike instead.

Johno59

I lost track of BJs around this time as well owing to QC problems. The whole British bike industry was falling apart at this time. Motorcycle s likewise. The bikes had a fantastic reputation right up thru before and after WW2. Like I said above I only learnt a year ago they were still going. Much to my joy.
In the UK Covid has proved a bonanza for the bike industry old and new so it a real shame. Suggests to me their demise has come about owing to a more chronic problem that may or may not be tied to BJ or the bike industry in general.
Before WW2 there was 15000 individual bike makers in the UK- from father and son shops to millions a year behemoths. BJs is one of the very last of any size.

TugaDude

Thanks for the clarification as it pertains to Bob Jackson. Apparently it is common British slang for something already made. Raleigh advertised "off the peg" frames in various sizes and there was no customization available. You got what you got.

Road Fan

This is what I was wondering, is it possible to order a new off the peg now?

Looks like the answer is no.

non-fixie 

Update: BJ no longer plans to close, but to stay open for another 85 years.

Bob Jackson Cycles | Crafted Bicycle Frame Building Since 1935

nlerner

Cool!

merziac

Great news!

Too few of these iconic places left as it is which is interesting since many of the newcomers to the business are enjoying plenty of success.

Granted many are gravel, all road oriented, but still.....