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@alanelsegood
I am Alan Elsegood, eldest son of Arnold Elsegood, whom you featured in your post. Fantastic to see our shop in York as it was around 1950: it can't have been later than that because the car you see in the photo, registration no. EUM427 was sold when I was no more than 5 (ie. 1950) because I'd fallen out of the rear door at a racing event/grass-track trial at Elvington Airfield near York. My Dad decided the car had to go!
I'm attaching a photo of my Minster, built specifically for me after I passed my GCE examinations at age 16, and which cost £52 (which would now be around £1,500). I know that becasue it was NOT a gift: I worked in the shop Saturdays and during school holidays and paid for the bike at £1 per week for a full year from my pocket-money and what I earned from my paper-round. You can see the positioning of the "Minster" transfers. The A E ELSEGOOD transfers were a later consideration as the stock of "Minster" transfers was almost exhausted. His shop was close to York Minster, as you probably know, and visible from the windows (of the accommodation above the shop) when we lived there.
Malcolm from York wasn't completely correct in terms of the history he gave to you. The shop in Lord Mayor's Walk was under threat of Compulsory Purchase to enable the development of York Ring Road which, in the event, never happened. The threat had been hanging over the premises for several years which was why my father and mother bought the second shop on Burton Stone Lane in Nov 1958. Neither my brother nor I possessed the 'natural talent' for mechanical skills which my Dad had. He expected to give me a rim, a hub, spokes and nipples, and that I would lace it up into a wheel after one demonstration. Not happening! My skills were developed in Personnel Management and my brother's as a Graphic Designer.
Arnold died in July 2003. His own Minster, which he was riding until the day he was taken into hospital after a fall, went to my eldest son, Carl, who had it stripped, re-enamelled Flam Red, as it always had been) and rebuilt by Ellis Briggs of Shipley, where my Dad had always had his enamelling work done. Carl treasures the Minster.
Mine is as original, including the Brooks B17 saddle, Campag derailleur, Mafac brakes, Weinmann rims etc. Following a judo injury to my knee (at university) and two subsequent operations such that there's not much cartilage left, I don't ride as much as I did, and that means it's harder (at the age of 68) to get really fit so that I could extend myself a bit more. For local rides - to and from the village - I ride a Boardman Comp Hybrid, but it's a poor substitute. It's a harsh ride compared with the Minster, and the gear ratios don't suit me at all. I would resent having to buy a new chainwheel set and block to recreate the gear ratios of the Minster, because the Boardman is a temporary expdient, whereas the Minster is permanent. It was built for me personally: I saw it in construction; the lug-work was done to a design I preferred, and some of it I built (when I was 16) under Arnold's supervision.
I've registered to this blog as a result of the post from Ecobeard, and I'd be happy to post up some more pictures of Arnold at work, riding and acting as Timekeeper at various events. My mother, brother and I were often Dad's support team when he was riding, like the time he tried to recover his 12-hour record at the age of 46 (Yorkshire Century 12-hour Trial: 29 July 1956): he did 217.608 miles despite his bum being covered in boils at the 6-hour stage, and narrowly missed getting his title back.
Arnold was, as is well-known, one of the Founders of the York Cycle Rally and his ashes were distributed at the site of the Lightweight Tent on York Knavesmire, at which he officiated for many years (and where my brother and I helped 'man' our stand displaying Minster frames and the other items Arnold sold.
If there's enough interest in this post, I'll be happy to expand and provide more photos and anecdotes.
OOPS! I can't find a way to add the photos unless I lodge them on Flickr or some other web URL. Any guidance available?
Alan Elsegood