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That ‘Cloud’ Butler is really lovely.
Chainstay mounted derailleur is unusual on a 40’s British lightweight no?
It’s got some European parts that it probably picked up on its travels - posh Dugast tubs, Italian brakes and French stem, are those Lefol levers?
Hubs look like Airlites but have QRs, I guess the wheels are later?
I’d love to know the history of this bike, it hangs together really well and looks legit and like it’s been loved over time.
absurdbird-
Yeah it’s great isn’t it? Those are modern tubs - without looking weren’t they FMB? Either way they’re cool. $$ but if I win the large flange Blumfield hubs and get to build the sprints I’ve been dreaming about for a couple of years I might get some :)
Agree the hubs are Airlite, I think it was common to put in Campag or Gnutti hollow axles and skewers. They fit in the older 5/16” barrel front Airlites - I had one I serviced to find a Campag axle and ‘53 date stamped locknuts. The stem is a nice touch. Could all have been put together last week obviously but certainly tells a romantic story.
I’m probably spending a year in Switzerland from August and have been debating what bikes to take. Pretty sure the R O Harrison is going so maybe at some point someone will wonder how that got so far from home :)
veloham
This is a pretty cool "Cloud Butler"
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cloud-Butler-40s-simplex-Vintage-Bikes/313382204489