1939 Holdsworth La Variable

Thanks for all your time on this will be annoyed if it's a 50s model,Graham at VBC is very knowledgeable,I have some 40's road/path dropouts but will be saving them for now I think,Would quite like to buy a 30's la quelda should you hear of one,have quite a few 40's frame that could be available for a trade.

There were a few La Quelda on sale I think one here and one on eBay not long ago (few months).
Indeed nice ones.

I have e-mailed the Marque Enthusiast. Will get back to you as soon as he gets back to me.

As I've been pointed out in PM, those braze-ons on your frame are for a Cyclo derailleur, not a Osgear/Simplex one.

So worth keeping that in mind! :)

You might want to have a look at this page: http://threespeedhub.com/catalogues/

Hey mate, got an answer from the Marque Enthusiast:

"The red frame is a Holdsworth of c.1948 - Frame number needed for full identification."

I was close :)

by the way I don't think I've shown you guys a nice set of leather "Worthy" panniers that will go with this.

Also I will get a Holdsworth original rack.

Very little of this is actually period correct, but at least we are within the 40s-50s.

I think they are the DEVONIA panniers you can see in this leaflet (page 39). They also got the quick release system!

http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Holdsworth%20Aids%20catalogue%201939%20(V-CC%20Library).pdf

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And yesterday I've put on properly (with the help of a local chap from a local cycling campaign group) the crankset and pedals.

Once I get the wheels I'll start finishing it up.

They look good on the Mistral :)

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I've just found a Simplex Champion du Monde (Made in Italy)! Great.
Not what was it sold with in the catalogue, but it was available on some other models of the year and the 50s version of La Variable was sold with it.

Also found a Simplex lever for it on eBay. Total cost less than £70 all delivered.
Dérailleur from Italy (found while commenting on a bike holder on a Facebook group! Amazing where you can find stuff) and lever from France.

Pictures:

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Lever:

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There was one on eBay which sold for £200. Did you get it?

Went a bit further with the La Variable today.

Finished the wheels with Raleigh 26" 1 1/4 tyres and a single speed freewheel.
I've put on Bluemels short mudguards and GB Sports brake calipers and brake pads with the leather insert.
The front one of which has a VERY small clearance between the brake pad and the fork! I had to put a washer and wasn't enough, luckily with the mudguard holder on, clearance is enough to not touch the fork.

Almost done finishing it.
Will finish it only once I re-organise the space so that I can store it completed and not dismantled.

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I think the front mudguard has to go the other way around :D

Edit: no it is the right way, but I am using it's holder as a spacer for the front brake.

I need to get a proper spacer and put the mudguard holder on the rear of the fork crown instead of the front.

It's looking really good. One step closer!

Thanks to your components mate!

With the Coventry Cycle chain, Alfredo Binda strap on...getting slowly there.

Now I need only a lock ring, totally forgot about it until I've started putting the fixed sprocket on.

Brakes will come later.

Bit heavy, I assume it's because of the steel rims

Nice. Looking good!

Thanks!!

So what type of lock ring do I need for those BH Sivada hubs!??!

I mistakenly got a Miche one, but it's too big. So searched better and I thought a 1.29 x 24 would work fine, but it won't thread in (I got a System EX fixed lockring)

So which one do I need ???

Also another shot. I managed to put on the Holdsworth rack that @mrgumby gave me and the Holdsworthy panniers I found on eBay + the Carradice saddlebag from a forum member I think.

All old smelly stuff :)

I still need this lockring to be able to safely ride it though.

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Side view while I was typing this.

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Plus brake levers and cables.

yeah, those too :) at least the front one. Brakes are already on, just missing cables.

Got a lockring that fits! Thanks @ElGato.

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