-
The builders were not even necessarily mainstream - some were working in their garden shed!
I feel people put too much importance on the original 'branding' of old bike frames - of course in some cases you know what you've got because of the eccentricity of the builder e.g. Hetchins, Bates, Paris and so on, but in so many cases it's just not possible to discover the origin of a frame once it's been lost. But just losing the original identity doesn't really make the thing itself less desirable, especially if you intend to use it (I hope that is your intention).
So if you want to refinish your frame and you don't feel it would be complete without some name on it, I suggest the best option is to make something up - perhaps that will become your own 'brand'!
As to facts, the only possible help I can offer is that there is a village in North West Kent called Longfield, and it is quite close to Green Street Green which was a cyclists' meeting point for many years. So it's possible there was a bike shop in Longfield, which could be your answer. You might try old Kelly's Directories.
Hi Clubman.
Yes I'm aware that cycle shops used to rebadge frames supplied by more mainstream builders, it causes a bit of a dilemma; rebadge with a guess as to which builder actually made the frame and this of course means the frame number doesn't match the claimed decals used: or, as you suggest use any random badge, but leaves you in the same situation. I guess I could get Lloyds to copy what is able to be read and invent the rest from historic photos. If indeed it does read Bromley Kent and what looks like 'Long' or 'Lond' just above and 'xxxx' cycles in the arch above then something akin to what it once was might be achieved. Thoughts? As you appear to be a preservationist, I thought you may have an opinion? Thanks C