Found this at the local coop and am skeptical it is an original. Can't find any images of Holdsworth's with bi-plane forks or matching graphics. The decals seem to good. Maybe a respray? It has track drop outs. I will go back for more images if needed, serial number etc. Thanks!

A lovely looking frame!

It's almost certainly not the original finish though it probably is actually a Cyclone. According to the Holdsworth catalogues, they were built with Nervex Pro lugs between 1955-58.

Holdsworth Cyclone

-Gregory

Something possibly goofy at the mid top tube, don’t know.
I do not think original finish either.

and why did you not buy it?

great fork crown.

it was pricey. I wanted to understand if and how original it was before I entertained buying it...

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Hello Vittorio,

excellent find

certainly appears to be what it purports to be

has seat stay bridge been drilled?

do the track ends wear a tab?

shall look forward to following along should you elect to opt in...


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It's certainly repainted and with new (but vintage-looking) decals. Find the serial number, that might be on the BB shell or a drop-out and will be an important clue as to when built.

I will get back there this week and hunt down the serial number. I knew I should have the first time...

Does anyone think the fork is original? that is the part that seems questionable. Nice fork either way...

Great find

I'm no expert but a big fan of Holdsworth.

The fork may have been custom on this or a one off or.....

It looks the part and is cool as heck, it could be better if a replacement or special order or again......

The pic of the 49, 50 and 51 track show a twin plate crown that seems to be cleaner but no Nervex Pro lugs.

Many of these were ridden daily and to the races on the weekends so it may have been speced with this crown/fork for stoutness of the day.

I would get back to it and scoop it up if close enough to your size post haste.

I like mystery frames like this with a seeming story weather it comes out or not, good possibility to have a one off.

Make it so.

I think the forkcrown is a Hetchins Twin plate.

I have a drawing of it on my website Velofilie https://www.velofilie.nl/13/13b

I think the crown in question is similar to the Hetchin's Twin Plate, but not identical. The bottom plate of the Hetchin's has its plate running through the middle. The crown in question looks to have two Hetchin's top plates stacked, where the plate runs across the top. Your website is a great resource! Thanks!

Maybe, but only if it's 2 of the top plates, this fork doesn't have the 2 fluted bottom plate and is not one piece.

The 1949 and 1950 catalogs describe the Cyclone front fork as including "genuine two plate round crown machined from highest quality mild steel".

Maybe it is original!

I'm fairly sure there will be a serial number on the steerer.
There's one on my 1953 Whirlwind and my 1961 Cyclone.

Should match the frame serial:.
Date from frame serial numbers: https://www.nkilgariff.com/FrameNosTemp.htm

It looks a lot like this one: Holdsworth track/path ID help needed

If it's really a Cyclone then it's 1952 or earlier - after that the track/path version was Zephyr

As per the original Holdsworth catalogues scanned in the link I provided above, the Cyclone model could still be has as a road or path version and came equipped with these Nervex Pro lugs only between 1955-58.

nice find! It looks near identical. I will get another look at the frame this week. I now think it is a legitimate Holdsworth.

Saw the frame yesterday. Still very pretty...and definitely do think it is original with a respray and new decals. I am going to pass for now. it seems expensive and I currently don't have a good set of wheels for its 120 spacing. good luck to anyone wanting to decipher the serial number...

here’s another possible holdsworth that shares that fork crown.

but it seems like that crown also sat on dick powers, which is what I assume this one is.

Just how expensive are we talking about?

I think it was $450, perhaps negotiable. Fair or not, just seemed like more than I wanted to pay for the bike it would be for me.

Could match the first one. but the wrap over stays on the bike in question look much finer/thinner than the Holdsworth you linked to. Perhaps the difference between Shop built and Factory built?

The second bike, the Dick Powers, does not have wrap over seat stays so I think it can be eliminated for an exact match.

Thanks!