Finished off this one today... The OG chrome frame came out pretty clean. It's the only chrome frame I own but I noticed they're much easier to clean than nickel.

Hope you guys dig it!

Wow...that is awesome. I've seen tons of Webcos over the years, I own 3 of them myself...and I think that is the first chrome one I have ever seen.

Drooling all over the keyboard right now...

Nice bike!

Was chrome a stock option? Did Webco continue building frames into the 80s?

Seeing that bike reminds me of something...I know the answer to this next question, does anyone else?

What is the purpose of the "skip welds" in the front gussett?

Give it your best shot...

What is the purpose of the "skip welds" in the front gussett?

A. To avoid making the tubes brittle due to too much heat from a continous weld?

B. To avoid puddling of nickle or chrome when the bikes were plated?

C. Both A and B?

Thanks for the comments you guys.

Dennis, those are great questions. When it comes to Webcos, I'm always in the dark. I think that's maybe why I like them so much. There's a certain mystique about them. I remember first seeing them as a kid in the 70's and thinking they were totally cool. As I've begun collecting and learning more about them, it seems very few companies have had a more nebulous history or are more difficult to accurately identify the particular models/years.

There is still so much more to learn about Webcos some 35+ years later which is incredible especially considering that they are arguably one of the very first race ready BMX frames ever made in America. The more I know, the more interesting they become.

This particular frame is factory chrome and a couple "Webco Heads" have told me they suspect it's a '79.

In terms of when Webco stopped making bikes (never mind trying to ID their serial numbers which apparently makes no sense at all) it seems to be somewhat mysterious. I've seen some early 80's models but that's as much as I know as far as when they stopped being made.

The skip welds/gusset question is beyond me. bmxerpete seems to have some decent ideas. I'm curious... What's the answer?

Another real beauty! That one just really came together nice and has a real nice "feel" to it.

WOW what an amazing Webco! That is two great classics,Webco and Moto Mags! I hope my webco turns out that great.

I really like the 'cleanliness' of that build. Webcos always impressed me and the dropouts look flawless.

Oh! and what's the answer to the skip weld question?

I must stop looking at it, I’m starting to want one.

nice ...i never liked them bitd , thought of them as fake cooks .
but now i understand the history.
now i really like them.
dion

I like that point about the two classics. BTW, I'm sure your Webco build will be sweet... Any Webco has a certain pedigree no matter how you slice it!

Now that I think about it, Motomags, Webco frames and Redline Forks were sort of the "Holy Trinity" when it came to cutting edge parts in the early/mid 70's. Besides the Japanese with their Yamaha Motobike, there wasn't much going on in terms of professional complete race ready production bikes coming out during that period, especially from the USA as far as I know.

From what I understand, the first "Yamaha Gold Cup" was pretty much where these three companies (Webco, BMX Products/Motomag and Redline) came together for the first time and blew everyone away. The second half of the 70's was really the era for full American made pro BMX bikes. Some good history there...

Dennis, you've left us on the edge of our Mesingers... OK, what's the answer on the skip weld thing?

"Skip welds"...I do not claim to state that my answer is the the only answer, or even the right answer, for that matter. These are my recolections.

...back in my day... ...the early frames with no gussets, Schwinn Stingrays and the like, would break right at the headtube.

The earliest BMX frames started with the 'single gusset' at the head tube. (From here on I am going from personal experience.) My first BMX frame was the infamous Pedalpower/ Rink Raider. It began it's life with a single gusset. Then a crack developed on the down tube just past the gusset. Steve Rink took the frame back to the designer/builder (Steve Johnson) and they welded dual gussets on the side of the front.



I never had another problem with cracks in the front end again. All this took place around mid 1975.

It was about this same time that somebody decided that by 'skipping' sections of weld on a gusset it would spread out the pressure and stress points of that critical area.

In hindsite I also like bmxerpete's idea;


I am NOT a metalurgist or a design technition. I just remember the industry people talking about this stuff back then.

Oh yea, by the way, I rode a Webco (with redline forks, Motomags and box bars) for a short time back then.

baron ...wow nice picks ...wow the history , i ..so love it .
thanks sir.
dion

i finished mine ..

ill take another pic tomorrow ..didn't realize it was so blurry.
bitd ..i would have thrown that messenger seat and the box bars in the trash ...now it took me a long time to find some nice ones...lol
dion

thanks for the new desktop pic ....bad cross-up

Aaa...your welcome...

As I have gone through my hundreds of old photos I noticed that I was not very creative in my jumping style. I probably have dozens of photos of me jumping and doing some variation of that same cross up.

Vonmark that build looks sweet! Please add some better pics when you get a chance. Is that frame OG chrome?

Thanks for those answers and all that history Dennis! I love hearing about those early days and how things came about... Those pics of your old Webco are really awesome BTW.

There's something about old Webcos with Redline forks and Motomags... That combo is as classic as bacon, lettuce and tomato!

For those of you who may have not seen this pic of the Red Baron, this one is great.... I remember reading this issue just like it was yesterday.

Another classic: