Elswick Hopper
 

Hi, as a youth I bought a Elswick Hopper drop handle bar steel framed road bike. It was white frame with purple forks and rear stays. I still have it but resprayed it many many years ago. I now want to rebuild and renovate the bike, and am trying to find info about it. Not sure if it was 1960/1 or 2 when it was bought, or what model it was. It has a metal badge on the front and the only number I can find is a raised 74 under the bottom bracket. Any info on year or model would be appreciated. Many Thanks in advance...

To paraphrase Will Rogers, "All I know is what I read on Wikipedia." Do any of the Elsworth Hopper bicycle images there resemble yours? Some of our U.K.-based members may be able to weigh in here, as well. I am always interested to learn about a new-to-me marque.

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the raised "74" on the shell may be a stock number for the shell itself from maker Brampton


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Is "74" plausible as an indication of frame angle?

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Brampton shells have two digit model numbers which are cast in, hence raised on the finished parts

they are stock numbers only and do not communicate size/thread/angles type information

if you check online for one of the Brampton catalogues posted you may find your model of shell

the veteran library had pdf's available of a couple

the veteran club probably has a marque enthusiast for E-W who shall have good information to assist you such as adverts, brochures, catalogues, serial registry, etc.
it is necessary to join the club in order to communicate with the marque enthusiast

https://v-cc.org.uk

https://www.classiclightweights.co.u...lswick-hopper/


http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri..._Hopper_main.h
tm
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Sorry, but this reminded me of Edward Hopper. "Nighthawks", there must be a bike parked around the corner.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8748d70950.jpg

Thanks very much folk for prompt replies
i have now established that the year was probably 1962, as I’ve found frame number and it starts with T
just really need to know the model now. Is there catalogues out there for 1962..?

It was trying to find out about an Elswick Hopper that got me onto this forum. It was a very cool old bike, 1957 vintage or so, but is long gone now.
That bike was a Vampire model and had some of the coolest decals and graphics on it of any bike I've ever seen. Classic 50's British stuff.
I sold it to some guy who told me he was interested in starting a small EH museum in Britain. Maybe that was just a story. But he did pay me
to ship it to England.
This was at least 15 years ago and I have since searched the net about this brand. Not much info on them unfortunately.

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Thanks for posting! :thumb:

For some reason name did not make me think of either William nor of Hedda...


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de434a0969.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hopper


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1df137a04b.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedda_Hopper

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The V-CC Library has in its archives an E-W catalogue of 1960 if you think that might be close eno' to be of assistance...

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The man who brought Elswick Hoppers to the attention of Americans (and Canadians) was no less than Sheldon 'The Man' Brown.
Read and see about his here.

Elswick Team 1958:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...548fe687c0.jpg

You beat me to it.

I have what I took to be a 1957 with a v serial number. I thought the year got later as you the letter got closer to A. If mine is a 57 then T would designate 59.

There is a British bicycle history website with a table of serial Numbers.

Just checked, and T is 62. Mine is a 60.