Claud Butler frame: Any dating comments?
03-06-09, 12:08 PM
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Claud Butler frame: Any dating comments?
I obtained this nice single color (light yellow) CB frame set. It is made of Reynolds 531 (main tubes only) and has 531 forks. It has pump pegs on the seat tube. In addition to the 'Claud Butler' name on the down tube there's a 'Holdsworth' decal on the same down tube near the head tube. There is no model name whatsoever.
The frame and forks are noted with the same SN: 016410. The steerer tube is marked with "Reynolds Butted" on the portion near the bottom of the threads and close to the crown.
The rear spacing is 126mm.
It came with some decent GS parts:
**170mm Crankset, 116 bcd, 53-42;
**Nuovo Triumphe derailleurs (gray finish) on front and rear;
**Seven speed Sachs Maillard FW, 12-28;
**Campy down tube clamp-on friction levers;
**Gran Sport BB;
**Campy Chorus 26.2 seatpost;
**Unknown stem;
**Universal 61 centerpull brakeset;
**Michie Competition hubs, 36 hole x3 to some Aspin rims;
**Campy drop outs front and rear (no rear adjusting screws), with eyelets;
**Esge chromoplastic mudguards.
Well, I took all the parts off the bike and cleaned the frame. It weighs 6lbs 10oz or 3.00kg.
I plan to take it to a frame builder to have him check it, face the bb and the head tube, and go over the crown race. Typically, he cleans up the threads too.
Any idea as to the date or year it was made based on the SN? I'd provide pics, but it would be easier when its assembled. Maybe when I post some pics, there might be an idea as to a model name, if it ever had one.
Best
Steve
The frame and forks are noted with the same SN: 016410. The steerer tube is marked with "Reynolds Butted" on the portion near the bottom of the threads and close to the crown.
The rear spacing is 126mm.
It came with some decent GS parts:
**170mm Crankset, 116 bcd, 53-42;
**Nuovo Triumphe derailleurs (gray finish) on front and rear;
**Seven speed Sachs Maillard FW, 12-28;
**Campy down tube clamp-on friction levers;
**Gran Sport BB;
**Campy Chorus 26.2 seatpost;
**Unknown stem;
**Universal 61 centerpull brakeset;
**Michie Competition hubs, 36 hole x3 to some Aspin rims;
**Campy drop outs front and rear (no rear adjusting screws), with eyelets;
**Esge chromoplastic mudguards.
Well, I took all the parts off the bike and cleaned the frame. It weighs 6lbs 10oz or 3.00kg.
I plan to take it to a frame builder to have him check it, face the bb and the head tube, and go over the crown race. Typically, he cleans up the threads too.
Any idea as to the date or year it was made based on the SN? I'd provide pics, but it would be easier when its assembled. Maybe when I post some pics, there might be an idea as to a model name, if it ever had one.
Best
Steve
Last edited by steve-d; 03-06-09 at 12:37 PM. Reason: typo
03-06-09, 06:49 PM
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Bikes: 1970 Holdsworth Mistral, Vitus 979, Colnago Primavera, Corratec Hydracarbon, Massi MegaTeam, 1935 Claud Butler Super Velo, Carrera Virtuoso, Viner, 1953 Claud Butler Silver Jubilee, 1954 Holdsworth Typhoon, 1966 Claud Butler Olympic Road, 1982 Claud
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Can't help you with the Serial number but Holdsworth made Claud Butlers from 1957 to 1985. Nuovo Triomphe suggests early 1980's, the 531 main tubes only and forks plus pump pegs on the seat tube suggest a Majestic or Dalesman model. When you can post photos it might help to narrow the model down further. Any idea of the angles of the head tube and seat tube? Are they both 72 degrees?
03-06-09, 11:28 PM
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you can ferret it out here, perhaps. Six digit serial numbers may very well have belonged to the original pre-1957 claud butlers. This would make this frame a 1940, that has been redressed in new parts. That is not as suprising as it seems; we have seen several Clauds lately that have been modernized at some time in the past. The early ones apparently rode very well, although I have yet to get mine on the road.
we need a few pictures to make sure that we are looking at an old one.
we need a few pictures to make sure that we are looking at an old one.
03-07-09, 09:22 AM
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Bikes: Maserati MT-2 (reviewed in Road and Track, 1974; Raleigh Competion GS Carlton; Dawes Super Gallexy; Hollands; Raleigh Professional
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The SN was on bottom of the BB and also on the steerer tube. It is: 016410
I'll post some pics when I get it back from the frame builder.
I really don't know if any of the components are original. The seller didn't know either.
It is in good shape and the components are very operational. A good cleaning and polish and it'll be in great shape.
Steve
I'll post some pics when I get it back from the frame builder.
I really don't know if any of the components are original. The seller didn't know either.
It is in good shape and the components are very operational. A good cleaning and polish and it'll be in great shape.
Steve
03-07-09, 09:44 AM
#6
My bikes became Vintage
Can't tell you anything much more than Oldpeddaller. The Holdsworth numbers don't give any clue as to date. In fact, the later CB numbers don't even maintain continuity over the years. Most likely the frames were made by different builders in different shops. The 126mm rear spacing suggests something from the 1957 to 1985 Holdsworth era.
