Falcon? Holdsworth? Falcworth? RHBSC
RHBSC = Red Headed Bastard Step Child
During the 80s both Falcon and Holdsworth/Claud Butler fell on hard times and were passed around by several other bicycle marques more than a ball in a rugby scrum!
Some confusing history with the connections between Falcon and Holdsworth.
Holdsworth and Claud Butler (Holdsworthy)
A UK bicycle company named Marlboro bought Holdsworthy in November, 1985.
The Marlboro Rapier company was launched selling bikes with 'Made by Holdsworthy Co Ltd' decals during 1987 or later. It appears that when Marlboro sold the Holdsworth and Claud Butler brands to Falcon in 1987, they retained the 'Holdsworthy Company Ltd' name.
Falcon
In 1978 a rival bicycle manufacturer Elswick Hopper plc acquired Falcon Cycles which was operated as a subsidiary before being later merged into Elswick Hopper's factory at Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire.
By the mid-1980s, Elswick Hopper plc was was losing money and in desperate need of reorganization. The company renamed itself Elswick plc in 1984 and renamed its bicycle division Falcon Cycles.
In 1987 Falcon Cycles acquired the Holdsworth and Claud Butler brands from Marlboro.
After the 1987 takeover, Falcon Cycles Ltd (an Elswick PLC Company), offered Holdsworth "Racers", Claud Butler "Tourers" and Falcon "Sports Cycles".
Falcon Cycles was sold to Tandem Group plc in November 1995. The Falcon Cycles division of Tandem was responsible for producing bikes and accessories under the Falcon marque, as well as under the brand names of: Boss, Claud Butler, CBR, British Eagle, Coventry-Eagle, Elswick, Exile, Holdsworth, Scorpion, Shogun, Stinky Bitz and import-only Townsend brands.
About 6 years ago I picked up a ~1984 Holdsworth frame from a seller in the UK. It's made of Reynolds 753R and has many of the features of Falcon frames from that era.
Fuzzy eBay picture...
Finished bike. All Campy Super Record except for Victory cranks with 50-35T chainrings for lower gearing.
Two odd things about this frame... It has fluted seat stay tops plus Campy 1010B short dropouts with fender eyelets. A full bore racing frame with fender eyelets? It rains a lot in the UK...
The eyelets weren't added, they were made that way by Campagnolo.
The frame has the same fork crown as a number of Falcon bikes from the mid 80's that I've seen photos of.
1987 Falcon Harrier
1980's Falcon Ernie Clements
Verktyg
Chas.