Hello everyone, I was wondering if you could help me identify the track frame I just received. It came from Australia. I would like to know if I should restore it to its former glory, or just keep it as is. It looks like it was British-made, and the guy at the bike shop told me it may be a Holdsworth. I looked up pictures of old Holdsworths and am not too sure. So without further ado, here are pictures:


^It says "S 27"

^"11" Stamped on the bottom of the BB Shell

Campagnolo Track Ends

Rear Brake Bridge


^It has tapering on the lugs on the seat tube.

^And tapering on the downtube

And the double plane fork.

Feel free to move this thread if its in the wrong place. And thanks in advance for the help. I really appreciate it.

There were so many Australian frame builders that built track frames it does make tracking down a particular builder almost impossible. Your frame doesn't appear to have any obvious distinguishing features.

I think you did the right thing by looking into the Holdsworth possibility. Often bikes were bought into Australia and sold after a season of racing. Does it look similar to other Holdsworths?

It does look like a strongly built frame with nice long pointed lugs that have been filed thin. I would guess at a 70's vintage. I also wonder if the rear brake bridge was drilled out by a previous owner. I would fill the holes in if I was to do it up.

I like it. I think it is worth doing up.

Best of luck,

Gary.

I'm not so sure its a pure 'track' bike but maybe a path racer given the fork is
also drilled.
Other than that I can't really give any more info on the builder etc.

Marty.

Thanks for the replies! The older Holdsworths that I saw had window cutouts in the head lugs, and I didn't see the Campy track ends on them, so I'm not 100% sure its a Holdsworth.

Also, It looks like a previous owner drilled the fork and brake bridge, not the builder. Its a little hard to tell from the photos, but that is what it looks like to me. If/when I restore it, Ill make sure to fill those in.

Anyway thanks again.

how about another 'worth': Bosomworth?

I'm not so sure those drilling are not original. In fact the crown almost looks cast with the bolt hole, but it's very difficult to tell without more detailed shots.

Upon closer inspection, you are right, I think the fork was cast with a bolt hole. The hole is not perfectly round.

It looks closer to a Bosomworth than a Holdsworth too.

This is the picture I am using for refrence though.

It would be exceptionally difficult and risky to say the least to drill out a twin plate
fork crown, thats one reason why I think it might have been that way originally.
I see a similarity to the Bob Jackson track bike on Classic Rendezvous.

Marty

A Holdsworth would almost certainly have Campy track ends (what you call DOs on a track frame) since Holdsworthy was the exclusive Campagnolo importer for the UK. The fork crown might be a Milremo piece (just a guess) and, if so, that could have come from Ron Kitching...so, the maker is still a mystery to me.

^ Actually you are right, I must have not done my homework very well. This is why I came here- a wealth of knowledge. Thank you for the replies, everyone. Hopefully we can figure it out.