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The
Tom Karen Meeting
Mr
Tom Karen
For
those who do not know, Tom Karen was asked to design a new style
of bicycle in the late 1960's for Raleigh then based in Nottingham.
Raleigh
supplied Tom (then the Director for Ogle design)
parts
from (we now know) the Raleigh Mustang and RSW.
For
those who are not familiar with the Mustang, this bike was the English
version of the Raleigh Rodeo, the Rodeo was produced in the USA
by Raleigh. The Mustang is a very rare cycle and we now believe
this is the definitive link between a cruiser style cycle and
the Chopper. As far as the Club know there is only ONE Raleigh
Mustang in existence and was found hanging on a rusty nail in a
closed down bike shop in Essex nearly 3 years ago.
(Pictures
of this bike will be added further down this article)
Tom
began to work on a cycle like never seen before, first the
fluted banana seat (as we know it today) then fitting this seat
to the Mustang drew up the bike we now know as the Raleigh
Chopper.
Tom
Still has the original drawings, and a number of us from the
Club (www.RCOC.co.uk) were privileged
to see these drawing and compare them to the finished product.
There are photo's below of these very pictures copied by very
kind permission of Tom.
Raleigh
Mustang with the very First chopper seat fitted
The
First of Three Designs Tom Produced for Raleigh
More
Pictures of this incredible Proto type
Mike
H presenting Tom with a Plaque from the Raleigh Chopper Owners
Club (RCOC)
The
Meeting and Plaque was arranged by Mike to commemorate
the
35th anniversary of the Raleigh Chopper
The
following information was printed on the back of some of the
prototype pictures
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Raleigh Chopper Owners Club ( www.rcoc.co.uk
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