Hawthorne/ Orange is the new Red.

[morton]

The more I look at those fork tips the more bepuzzled I get. As you say, it looks like someone did it who knew what they were doing, but that still doesn't explain WHY they did it. Have you got a close-up?

Just a guess....

Could it be the dropouts were a "closed circle" instead of being open at the bottom for easier wheel remover?

I know it would be easier to just cut a slot, but who knows with amateur mods?

 

[Dave Stromberger]

Just a guess....

Could it be the dropouts were a "closed circle" instead of being open at the bottom for easier wheel remover?

I know it would be easier to just cut a slot, but who knows with amateur mods?

These pre-war CWC springer fork legs were made of steel tubing that was a bit too thin. The dropouts were just the tubing crimped flat, with a hole or slot. They were prone to cracking, since the legs could actually flex independently from each other. Bad design! I've got a handful of these forks, some with the cracks and gobbled welding repairs.