Wanted: Anything Chater Lea, wooden rims...for Holdsworth

So I've just got a '50 Holdsworth Tornado.......Its been resprayed a blue and cream colour. The paint looks pretty good together and will look good in the summer. I will eventually be getting it resprayed an original colour.

So the serial number on the frame is 11184, the frame and forks match.

It also has Chater Lea stamped in the rear drop outs, pretty sweet.

Has anyone got any thoughts or little gems about these frames, can anyone confirm the date?

I need to build it up asap.

I'm after some 50's period parts....anyone tell me what parts they think should go on...

Anything Chater Lea.....crank, chainring(inch pitch), headset, pedals.
Wooden Rims
Something like Harden Hubs
Bars & Stem...?

Anyone got any ideas...parts......or secret supply...
Would appreciate your thoughts.

Also can anyone tell me what BB would go in these, size wise?

ta

Alex

Gorgeous... Personally, I preferred it with it's original(?) paint... Lovely all the same, look forward to seeing her all finished...
I'll keep a look out for bits for ya... :]

have a gander at these pages: http://www.nkilgariff.com/
in the catalogue from 1951 to 1954 only

Cheers for the thoughts.
I would have preferred it in original.....the guy I bought it from got it sprayed.......
Still love it though

Team colours?

3 Attachments

You're gonna have to shell out stupid money for Hardens and Chater leas, probably. LIke really really stupid money.

Keep an eye out for
Cranks: Williams cheaper and better than CL
Hubs: BHC Airlites turn up quite a bit
Bars n stem: GB, or maybe Titan?
rims: steel
saddle: Brooks B17 Sprinter
BB: Bayliss Wiley

I have a Bayliss Wiley BB and axle for a single ring doing nothing. One of the bearing cages is a bit buckled, otherwise it's in decent nick. You could lose the cage and add a bearing to fix easily... I imagine the bearing will be an imperial size. Let me know if you want it for a few bob, I don't expect much for it.

PS I assume you know about Universal Cycle Centre aka Dave Marsh, in Rotheram? Has lots of good stuff. Lots of it is expensive though.

And it's probably a Zephyr not a Tornado, right? dogsballs did a similar one up 2-3 years ago, he did a fantastic job on it... Not sure who owns it now... Check this puppy out... 1952 Zephyr...

^That's gorgeous (including the rusty cranks)

i have some perfect bars for your bike, and stem. see ebay 'GB Ventoux bars' and 'track drop stem'.... I also have some BB axle bits that might match skullys axle. stay in touch.
I also have some very lovely airlite flipflop large flange hubs on wolber rims, correctly laced 3x and 4x. clinchers....not sure if i want to sell them though, will drink some booze tonight and think about it.

i also have a birmalux 27.2 period seatpost and brooks b17 if you're interested. again, would be a great match for the bike.

It looks like a Cyclone to me.
It's not the right headbadge for the year. The one you have, with the crown came out a bit later, '53. I know someone who has reproduced the hard to find earlier type. If you're interested I can see if he has any left. He only made a limited batch.
Good luck with building it up.

Friend of mine actually got a DM frame which apparently was his actual race bike, reinforced where HT and ST meets TT and DT.

PS I assume you know about Universal Cycle Centre aka Dave Marsh, in Rotheram? Has lots of good stuff. Lots of it is expensive though.

Cheers for the advice.
Would a Major Taylor be viable as a period stem? I quite like the design, different to most.

About the hubs....I stumbled across a lone Harden front hub for about 40 pound a few months ago, mint and spins for ever!
I was going to pair this up with a low flange 70's campy hub. I was getting these built for a 70's raleigh.....which has now been replaced by this.
Not exactly 100% correct.....should be OK though.
ta
Alex

I've got some wooden rims believe it or not, never ever thought I would see the day someone asked for some on here. They are not a matching pair but are in reasonable condition (need a clean and a coat of varnish or whatever it is you do to wooden rims) and appear round enough. If you really want them make me an offer!

A neighbour of mine in Cov has some Chater Lea inch pitch bits...

Lush.

I'm that way next weekend so could mention if you're interested. Gotta be upfront and say I don't know if he'd actually want to sell them tho, but no harm in asking.

OK, so it seems things are coming together well. With a lot of help from some guys on here. Gonna take the frame to a local shop to get some gold detailing added. Then start the build.

I've got one question, or two actually.

So I've found a crank, it is a 3 pin fluted 6 3/4 Chater Lea crank. There is one downside though, its bent and needs rechroming. Its bent as if too much pressure has been applied on the right side arm, in the direction of pedalling force. In anyones experience, could this be bent back OK? Or should I write it off and keep looking?

Also anyone know of what headset I should be looking for? Or have one to hand?

ta,

Im currently running a pair of very old milremo cranks that were slightly twisted when bought. bent them back with a very long thing drain pipe like pole. they seem fine but flex quite a lot whenst putting the power down!

A lot of 50's Holdsworths had Lytaloy headsets, although TDC or a Brampton Allatet will look fine. No Campag!

Those cranks are quite often available, although often people rechrome them too thickly and you lose all the detail, plus in my opinion they look too new and out of place. Any fluted Williams crankset is just as good - just avoid the single piece or C34.

So the project is coming along well....just the card thats taking a beating.....
Saddle, Seatpost, Hubs, Rims, Bars, Stem all done......

I just need a hand with the following...

I seem to be struggling to find a headset, not even a sighting at the moment.

Can anyone hook me up with one, like the ones mentioned in the above thread.

Also does anyone know if this should be running tubs....I think the wheels I've picked up are old tubs. Anyone know of good period 'gettable' tyres?

I think the crank and pedals will appear at some point along the build.

Thanks to everyone that has sorted me out with bits so far.

Cheers,

Alex

Any update? What's it looking like? Intrigued . . . .

Englishmaninmelbourne: Can I have my money for the Bayliss Wiley BB please? You have not bothered to reply to my PMs.

Oh, Alex...

You know the guy Joe?

Nah, just saw his name up here... ^

Get those cranks?