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Updated 8.20.2011 |
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1972: Across the street from the University of Maryland, 3 young bike
enthusiasts decided to make their own bikes and a booming business was begun. Proteus took a very hands-on,
proletariat approach... you could buy a bike frame, or a bike frame kit, or have your
kit's tubes mitered by Proteus, or have your bike painted after you made it at home!
Proteus also was a prime supplier for building bits and tubing. They published a frame building manual (even had a second revised edition, both sadly long out of print)) which made the magical art of frame construction more accessible to the average craftsman. Frames were made by various employees who changed regularly, yet, on occasion, highly trained master builders also came & went at Proteus. Perhaps most notable was Koichi Yamaguchi, who went on to have his own workshop in Colorado and build quite a reputation.
Top: Larry Dean,
Beth Williams, Barry Konig- |
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Proteus full Campy bike, ordered in
1979, owned by Dan Rovelli, Newtown, Conn.
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Prugnat lugs & closeup from the 1979 catalog
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Proteus at the NY Bike show in the late 1970s.
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