Pre 1950s rides of LFGSS: old bikes, vintage rats, classic lightweights

Very Nice. I'm always surprised by what's still about.

My Holdsworth (whatever it is) has had a factory refurb, I'd guess in the mid 50's.
It has the 1938 serial numbers 4169 where they should be. But also has 144 on the shell and on the forks.
So I have the 52-55 downtube graphics, and the 1953 crown headbadge. But underneath are the closer drillings for the pre Queens coronation smaller badge.

Holdsworth Frame Repairs

I notice that Jiveman's Holdsworth has what looks to me like a pre-war seat lug and fifties head lugs.

I have in front of me 'W.F. Holdsworth's Aids to Happy Cycling' for 1953. This gives the price for 'Supply and fit new top, down and head tubes ....... 60/6' (i.e. £3 and 2.5 pence).I don't suppose they would have bothered to salvage the old head lugs. Refinishing in a single colour was another 33/- (£1.65p).

I don't think this detracts from the frame - in a way it adds interest. I'm confident it will make an excellent machine for the 2020's!

That's great, I'd love a scan of that if possible. But that does fit. A 1938 serial number on the seat lug and forks. And 144 on the BB and top of the steerer. The crown badge I'm told is 1953 and on, also the script 'Holdsworth' fits with that period.
Funny you mention the head tube, it does still have the closer drillings for the original badge!
Another question. it has no brazings at all except pump pegs. I'm sure when I've worked on frames that have had brazed on fittings removed it leaves a mark/colour change. I can't help think that this was a Roi Du Velo if that's the case?

1 Attachment

Sort of saved the Williams. Its a C1200, and hard to get chain rings.
Bodge on one arm, luckily it's chain ring that's threaded. So hopefully I can tap it to tidy it up.
Maybe get it chromed one day.

1 Attachment

Super cranks these, design was far better than chater lea, with threading on the chainring.

The right hand crank is forged out of one piece of metal.
Fluted, with crisp edges and a slender design these cranks Ooze quality not obviously apparent through the photo.
Out of interest whats the date of the cranks.?

It's hard to see, but looks like AW. The bike seems to have been factory refurbed in the mid 50's so that fits. The bike is actually a 1938 Holdsworth.
I'd like to get these re chromed one day.

1953 Holdsworth price list, as requested.

The two sets of badge drillings - is it possible the job was to replace the top/ down tube and head lugs, but retain the original head tube? Seems unlikely, but it appears to save ten shillings!

Another possibility could be that the frame was refinished a second time after the repair, and by that time they only had the later type head badge.

1 Attachment

Thank you for that.
It's a bit of a mystery. Firstly I've not been able to identify the head lugs. The head tube seems original, and there's no evidence of an oiler ever been on it. There is absolutely no evidence of the frame ever having braze on's. Advice here, but I'm sure brazings and their removal leaves marks? Then the forks, only one model of that 1938 era had such steep forks. That was the Roi Du Velo, and no one seems to know anything about this model.
So I can see them replacing top and down tubes, which means the head is likely to be original. Surely they wouldn't have fitted new lugs to new top and down tubes and kept the old head tube?
Just posting another pic.

Just starting to mock up before paint. Respaced a budget hub, need to file a bit out of the drop outs. All threads good. So nearly there. Running tubs on it,
Painting it Eau Du Nil.

1 Attachment

Painting it Eau Du Nil

The original paint looks good thou :(
But it’s still really nice :)

Advice here, but I'm sure brazings and their removal leaves marks?

Removing a brazing would probably leave a witness mark visible in the metal after blasting, but the paint (including the primer) should cover this completely.

Since this is a track frame it's not surprising there were no brazings - even having pump pegs seems a bit much!

There were a few pre-war frames with steep head angles - I've got one myself.

Is it possible that your frame was built to order? I'd be surprised if Holdsworth would not have done this if requested, in which case the frame would not be recognisable from a catalogue.

Those head lugs: they are quite a common '50's pattern - I don't know what they're called, but I bet somebody does. Although you can see the frame has been repaired, it's probably not possible to know who did the work - not necessarily Holdsworths.

Are you aware that the Veteran-Cycle Club has a marque enthusiast for Holdsworth? He is the most knowledgeable person on the firm (and a lot of other subjects) in the entire old bike world.

Thank you. I'm just going to look at the VCC now.
I took it to Colour Tech for a repaint yesterday. Eua du nil.......dull green.

I’ve got a pair of Dunlop 27 x 1-1/4” rims with 32/40 holes I want to shift. They’re in ok/useable condition. I know how difficult these can be to move on and they’re impossible to find when you want them, but they’re too good to bin. Should I stick them on eBay and wait it out or would it be easier to move them on if I build them into wheels?

I have one Resilion rear hub. I’d need to get a matching front for circa £25 (one on eBay) and some spokes for £15-20.

^ I don't feel that wheels make as much as they should. They certainly don't repay the additional cost/pain of building.

I know what you mean, and these wouldn’t exactly be pristine (or premium) wheels either.

Morning all,
I picked up a new/old bike the other week and I’m wondering if anyone can help identify it?
The frame number is 51006 and is on the ns dropout. Other than the seat cluster and super skinny seat stays there’s not much to help with an ID.
Anyway here are some pictures to help get the ball rolling.
If you need any more pictures to help just shout and I’ll do my best.
Thanks in advance.

5 Attachments

“Rotrax frames are easily dated and identified – they used a small stamp for the numbers which were neatly punched round the bottom edge of the bottom bracket shell. The first two numbers eg 51 denote the year in this instance 1951”
It could be a ‘51 with that fork rake?

Hi there, while this probaly isn't pre 1950s exactly, I think its fair to post here.

It seems to be a C. Bertrand from London and I got it from @Foreigner65 in October last year. Had already collected some fixed gear 650b rando/touring build, I realized that the rear is (still) slightly off alignement and all my 120mm wheeleset are sitting a few mm to the left.

So, I will have someone take care about this alignement issue and see where I am going from here. Possible it will get 700c rims (32mm are no problem, even 40mm are barely fitting) and I am eyeballing one of those lovely fillet brazed "fingerling stems" made in the states by analog cycles/Alex Meade Cycle Works. Though not period correct, but sweet...

Cheers,
Nora

4 Attachments

I think one of the GB spear steams would be nice, but I gather you want modern 31.8 bars fitted?
Also that one ^ is 30% + upright? It does not look right IMO.

No point building if not for yourself. Resilion hubs are not most desirable, plus if rims are not in VGC you'll never recoup the outlay. Same here, have some nice 27 1 1/4 Fiamme/Weinmann rims on Maillard/Racelite hubs and I think I'd be lucky to get £40 for those these days....

Yes, the stem fitted is a modern Velo Orange I took from my Raleigh. I do love high bars/high stack/and/or long headtubes. So...

But indeed a GB would be quite nice, I've this one (prob. from the 80s) flying around...

1 Attachment

Mansfield saddle - rip on one side where the tensioning metal bit goes > can it be repaired/saved? Would adding a couple of more holes each side be a solution to get a tension wright? Or sawing in a strip of leather to reinforce it?

2 Attachments

This is nicer. £30 or less and more in tune with the 50s. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295548309425?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338749377&toolid=20006&customid=GB_888_295548309425.144394018002~1866858445848-g_EAIaIQobChMIn_6V-ZzF_QIVSuvtCh27AwJoEAQYASABEgIdgfD_BwE

You're right. Way better :)