BOOKS

Home | About | Books | Plans for Fixtures | Tools & Fixtures | Videos | Software | Suppliers

Since bicycle framebuilding is kind of an obscure profession, it's sometimes difficult to find materials that have been written on the subject. Over the years I have, in some cases, stumbled over some good books on, or related to, framebuilding. Here's a fairly complete list. Keep in mind that many of these books are now out of print and can only be found in used book stores. If you want to purchase some of these books and are not having much luck, there are some excellent book search sites on the Internet. Incidentally, please don't get confused, I DON'T sell these books myself.

Before checking out the list that follows, copies of my book, entitled The Paterek Manual for Bicycle Framebuilders can be purchased from Henry James Bicycles, United Bicycle Tool Supply, or through this web site. Click the link below to purchase The Paterek Manual through this web site.

Barnett's Manual: Written by: John Barnett: Published by: Vitesse Press, Brattleboro, VT, Distributed by: Vitesse Press, Brattleboro, VT 05301, Covers the subject of bicycle repair in great depth and has extensive coverage of the use of the mechanic's tool case.

Bicycle Metallurgy for the Cyclist: Written by: Douglas Hayduk, Published by: Johnson Publishing Co., Boulder, CO Distributed by: Velo-news, Box 1257, Brattleboro, VT, 0530, Discusses many aspects of metallurgy related to bicycle components and frames. Well illustrated and written in easy to understand terms.

Brazing Book, The: Written and Published by: Handy and Harmon, 850 Third Ave., New York, NY, 10022, Distributed by: All supplier of Handy and Harmon brazing products. Price: Promotional item , This booklet discusses applications of all Handy and Harmon's brazing alloys. It has tables giving compositions and and physical characteristics of all of their products as well.

Coni Book, The (out of print): An Italian Publication that was marketed in the late 60's and early 70's that dealt with racing bicycles. It was of particular interest to the framebuilder because it covered the areas of Italian racing frame design and sizing techniques. This is indeed a collector's item and don't be at all surprised if a copy in mint condition demands a premium price!

Designing and Building Your Own Frameset: Written by: Richard P. Talbot, P.E. , Published by: The Manet Guild , Distributed by: The Talco Corporation, Box 73, Babson Park, MA, 02157, A well illustrated, step by step handbook, written in easy terms to understand covering the subjects of frame design and framebuilding. This book is particularly good in the areas of setting up inexpensive fixturing.

DuPont Refinish Shop Manual: Written and published by: E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. (Inc.), Refinish Sales, Wilmington, DE, 19898, Distributed by: All DuPont paint supply stores. This is very well done manual that covers painting procedures and troubleshooting of painting problems. It is a four color publication with excellent prints of all the possible paint problems that can occur with automotive paints.

Jig and Fixture Design Manual: Written by: E.K. Henriksen, Distributed by: Manhattan Supply Co., 151 Sunnyside Blvd., Plainview, Long Island, NY, 11803, This is a book that covers all aspects of fixture design.

Kustom Painting Secrets: Written by: Jon Kosmoski, Published by: Jon Kosmoski's House of Kolor, Distributed by: Jon Kosmoski's House of Kolor, 2521 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN, 55406, A book written by one of the top custom car painters in the country. It's written mainly with automobiles in mind, but has a lot of information that can be transferred over to bicycle frame painting.

Linde Oxy-acetylene Handbook: Written and Published by: Union Carbide Corp., Linde Div., Distributed by: All Linde Welding Supply Distributors, A comprehensive manual that covers welding and Brazing procedures with Linde equipment. It is well illustrated and easy to understand.

Machinery's Handbook - 23rd Edition: Written by: Erik Oberg, Franklin D. Jones, and Holbrook L. Horton. Henry H. Ryffel, editor, Published by: Industrial Press Inc., Dept. 8838, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY, 10016, Distributed by: MSC, KBC, J&L, and Dalworth industrial supply distributors, This is the Bible for machining, welding, patternmaking, sheetmetal working, casting, grinding --you name it! Buy it and someday you will find a need to open it's cover! A companion book called Machinery's Handbook Guide is also available.

Machine Shop Practice (two volumes): Written by: Karl Hans Moltrecht, Published by: Industrial Press Inc., Dept. 8838, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY, 10016, Distributed by: Manhattan Supply Co., 151 Sunnyside Blvd., Plainview, Long Island, NY, 11803.

Machinist's Ready Reference: Compiled by: C. Weingartner, Published by: Prakken Publications, Ann arbor, Michigan, This is sort of a scaled down miniature version of of Machinery's Handbook. It's a ring binder with thumb tabs for quick reference.

Metals Handbook-Welding and Brazing: Written and published by: The American Society for Metals

Park Tool Manual, The (out of print): Written by: Tim Paterek, Published by: Park Tool Co., Distributed by: Most bicycle parts and tool distributors, This book cover the proper procedure for the use of all Park's line of bicycle tools. Of particular interest to the framebuilder is the section on frame repair and alignment with Park tools.

Paterek Manual, The: 450 pages, covers lugged and lugless framebuilding. Has numerous photos and illustrations, resource list, glossary, and plans for fixtures. The latest version, which is availabe from Henry James Bicycles, United Bicycle Tool Supply, and this web site. It has been up updated with author's notes in the margins throughout the book. Click the link below to purchase The Paterek Manual through this web site.

Proteus Framebuilding Handbook, The (out of print): Written by: Dr. Paul Proteus (a pseudonym taken from Kurt Vonnegut's book, Player Piano) Published by: Proteus Press, This book is a simple how-to book on frame design and framebuilding. It has been out of print for over a decade, but if you can find a copy, it is bound to have some useful information for the beginning framebuilder in it.

Shimano Service Manual: Written and Published by: Shimano Industrial Co., Ltd., Japan, Distributed by: Shimano Sales, This book covers all of the service procedures for Shimano bicycle components. It is of particular interest to the framebuilder in the areas of braze-on front derailleur location, cantilever stud location, and U-brake stud location.

Sutherland's Handbook for Bicycle Mechanics: Written by: Howard Sutherland, Published by: Sutherland Publications, P.O. Box 9061, Berkeley, CA, 94709, Distributed by: Most bicycle parts distributors, This is the bicycle mechanic's Bible. It is of particular interest to the framebuilder for the information it contains in the areas of tapping, facing, and reaming with the framebuilder's tool case.