Classic & Vintage Bicycle Appraisals and Inquiries - Classic Claude Butler?

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tyler--
03-23-09, 07:45 AM
Hi All...

I'm looking for a little advice please... I recently inherited a Claud Butler road bike (pics below) and was wandering if anyone could help me identify it's model / year. I think it was originally purchased in the 80s, but beyond that I'm clueless!

Could this be considered a classic bicycle? If so... is it worth anything and where would be the best place to sell? All the components are original as far as I can tell (handlebars in the pics are replacements, but I have the originals)...

Many thanks to anyone who can help...

John


::::: UPDATE :::::

Thanks for all the help so far guys. Here's some more details...

Derailleurs: Suntour VX front and rear
Shifters: Suntour
Breaks: Weinmann Vainqueur (front 610, rear 750)
Chainset: Exage 500E (possibly not original?)
Cassette: 5speed
Seat: Brooks (good call phillyrider!)
Lights: Dynamo, both working
Bag at rear: Carradice (bag at front is a modern addition)

Hope that helps narrow things down. Thanks again!

cb400bill
03-23-09, 08:08 AM
I know nothing about them but here is a link to a ton of info.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nkilgariff/ClaudButler.htm
tyler--
03-23-09, 08:13 AM
Great find cb400bill... thanks!

mkeller234
03-23-09, 08:45 AM
I also know zilch about the specific brand. The Reynolds 531 stickers are a great sign that your bike is valuable. The fenders look great on it too.
unterhausen
03-23-09, 09:46 AM
Claude Butler is a well known UK builder. Looks like it's been updated fairly recently. Do the bags have any markings on them? They might be worth selling separately.
phillyrider
03-23-09, 10:34 AM
The centerpull brakes makes the bike look older than 1980's to me (70's perhaps). If you list out the components with names and markings - that helps. With original components, it's sometimes easier for folks to give you a range for age. +1 on that 531 sticker is good. Nice brooks seat. The original handlebars, in my opinion, make the bike look nicer. Does the light work?
T-Mar
03-23-09, 01:39 PM
I don't know Claude Butlers well enough to say much other than it was a well respected brand. However, the Reynolds decals appear to be a plain gauge tube set. It also has Reynolds 531 forks. This, plus the set-up and the relaxed, parallel geometry indicate a good, touring model.

The Reynolds decals are 1976-1982. If they say Reynolds Tube Co Ltd. in the gold bar, they are from 1976-1977. If they say TI Reynolds Limited in the gold bar, they are 1977-1982. Of course, if they didn't rotate the decal stock well, the bicycle could be newer than the decals indicate. However touring models with plain gauge tubing were pretty much out of fashion by the mid-1980s so the decal period seems correct.