The gentleman I bought the Raleigh Lenton from asked if I could identify the bike. He had it painted in the past and applied the Norman decals because he had them around and wanted something on the tubes, so pay no notice to the name.

I said I know some people who will know....lol

The flatted pump-pegs could be a clue. Here is a '37 Hobbs with the same fork crown (apparently):

That’s a good shout. Some of the Hobb’s have a long spear in the centre of the headstock, and the mudguard braze ons.

... and a completely different seat-stay treatment at the seat lug. I have no constructive knowledge to add here, but wanted to point that out in case it matters.

Owner said he has had a couple of Hobb’s so does not think it is one of them, but has this picture of the drop out. Looks like 337.

https://www.classiclightweights.co.u...-frame-number/

Serial numbers on n/s rear drop out

Stallard, Baines, Carlton, Saxon, Gillott prior to 1951,Carlton, Viking pre end 1960

no expertise whatsoever, but I suspect there might be some connection to Birmingham...when this mystery is finally solved

Lol! Birmingham is the cycling equivalent of the Kevin Bacon game where you have to connect an actor to him within 6 moves!

A friend of mine is from Birmingham and a great old saying they have when it looks like it is going to rain is “It’s a bit black over ower Bill’s muthers”. Just thought I would share that with you!

The Bottom Bracket shell appears to read BRITISH MADE.

The crankset are from Edward Williams. The date code appears to be ZO, but the letter O was not used. So the date code is possibly ZC = 1962 or ZG = 1966.

I am no help with the frame maker.

Williams Chianst codes

That’s what I thought it said on the bottom bracket, British Made, good to see someone else can see the same thing. The guy is going to leave the bike to his son and has never known the make.

I can’t shake the feeling I have seen that headstock lug somewhere, the prominent centre, for want of a better word, spike or spear. It is like that tune that you can’t quite recall who it is in your head going around and around…..aaagh….

Found a mention on retro bike of someone who had a frame stamped “British Made” on the bottom bracket, the frame it was suggested was a Gillott. Did many manufacturers stamp “British Made” on the frame? Was it required for export for a period of time like the word “foreign” on some antiques?

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/...arlier.274318/

This led me to Mark Stevens excellent flicker page on Gillotts.

Mark Stevens | Gillott Cycles


Now I have not found a match for this frame but if you notice the head lugs on some, they have a very long “spear” in the centre, what do you think, possible?

Anyway, it was too interesting a flicker page not to share!