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Gillotts were the "go to" builder for the traditionalists after the war. I had a 1953 Fleur de Lis with a head clip. But very unusual.
I would not fret about the dropouts or the steerer. Build it up as it is with kit from the 4o's and you won't be far wrong.
The frame number is a puzzle. 1954 is too modern for this frame. 1947 is more like it. Can you take a photo of the number as stamped on the steerer. They were using 3/32nd stamps.

''It may use a headclip headset, if so it would place the frame 30's or '' You need to read the History.
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/gillott.html

Gillotts only started frame building in May 1945.

May I use the pics on my flickr set?

First of all, the lugs. A mix of Curly Cut and Spear. Very unusual. See the Curly Cut set I linked to on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/makfreak/sets/72157617359163094/
In the 40's Gillotts were experimenting with lug styles so these combos appear but are very rare.
Headclip, maybe but if so the steerer has been cut short. The Lytalloy headset nut may be original and it just used the loose insert races. Itll work. Look like Chater Lea lugs. Looks early to me, 47 ish? Check the steerer for a number. Rear dropouts look like they ve beeen changed or modified. Look modern. Drilled and sleeved rear brake bridge is original. Back then bikes had to do track work, TTs and club work. GR23V is Vaughans casting number. 191 is probably a sand blasters number. The other number with 479 in it could be a messed up frame number. Again , check steerer. At this time they stamped the Year e.g,. 947 for 1947 then the sequential. Only in the 300's in '47 for instance. Frame numbers were on steerer and BOTH rear dropouts. Get scraping. Curved chain stay bridge is unusual too, not seen one b4. Modern headbadge is wrong. Only transfers on early ones unless its from 49 in which case it would have had a brass type. Front dropouts look ugly and wrong. Ascertain date to get spec for correct period kit. Let me know.

Hi Did you get the brakes sorted on the Gillott? Is this John in Forres?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/makfreak/sets/72157617359163094/ More to come

Here's a link to my photos term on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makfreak/
Goodwood Revival 2013

I took a few before my battery died. I will transfer them from the iPhone.

This event is the most authentic example of a 1960' s Motor Racing meeting anywhere on Earth to my knowledge. 80% of the spectators are in period dress and no vehicles built after 1966 are allowed in the track area. The most exotic classic racing cars and motorcycles are given a good thrashing.
This year a mixed group of Classic cyclists were invited to re-enact a "stage" of the Tour de France to celebrate the 100th year.
I travelled down from Inverness by train. I had a guide meet me at Kings Cross station for the ride across London to my friends house in Peckham. I was riding my original 1955 Gillott Fleur de Lis with Huret Louison Bobet gear. I was carrying all my clothing and spares in a haversack which weighed 20kg. My guide named Dan had responded to my request on the London fixed gear forum. He had googled Gillott before he left to meet me and realising who I was suggested we go via the old shop in Southampton Way. We took some photos. On arrival at Nigel and Nells in Peckham I noticed an ominous split in the nose of my blocked big rivet Brooks B17.
Thursday the 12th at Goodwood. After the Celebrity cricket match champagne was served in Goodwood House. Bentleys, Bugattis, Rolls, Ferraris and Aston Martins parked all around. Dave Moroney and friend rode across the cricket pitch on their tandem with wine bottles strapped all over it. Attractive young ladies carrying magnums of Veuve Clicquot got us more and more relaxed. Friendships were forged. The sun set over the highly polished paintwork, the fountains tinkled under the Cypress trees and we were taken back to the camping area in a delightful vintage bus.
Friday the 13th at Goodwood.
. A fine morning shattered at 7.30 by the dulcit tone of a 350cc BSA Gold Star scrambler being started and revved right outside my tent. He must have missed the Champagne.
I donned my 1930's herringbone tweed 3 piece cycling suit and set off for the track. I left the Gillott in the replica French village square hoping that the "Paysan" would not lob a Boule into my spokes. After registration we were given meal vouchers to use in the "Freddie March Spirit of Aviation" marquee. To get there we walked past the paddock full of ERA's, Maseratis, BRM, Lotus, Coopers etc all rasping their way through gallons of Motor Racing Spirit and Castrol "R" as they warmed up for practise. Then past the Boeing Stearman, Ryan ST-A, Beech Staggerwing and other airborne exotica. I forgot to mention the frequent air displays by Spitfires, Mustang, Hurricane and a brace of Kittyhawks.
The weather turned windy but still warm with spits of rain.
Cyclists were turning up from all over. A magnificent 1911Clement ridden by Graham Draper caught my eye. Some machines were not fully period. The cut off date of 1966 being loosely interpreted by some. Period dress was very much in evidence and together with the spectators, surroundings and period vehicles all gave a true sense of the past. We had escort vehicles especially brought over from France. Several Citroen Tractions and weird looking gas bottle on wheels commercial vans. After car practise the Tour cyclists got onto the track. The Citroen pace car was supposed to wait but set off at speed. Myself and many others were so awestruck by being on the hallowed Tarmac of Goodwood that we got left behind leaving a straggly line of Cyclists trying in vain to catch up. There was no riders/drivers briefing beforehand which would have helped to form a more cohesive group.
I met up with friends Johnny and Lisa afterwards and we repaired to the hospitality of the Veuve Clicquot tearoom for sandwiches sans croute and more Shampoo. Then "over the road" for some vintage shopping which included Johnny buying me a £16 Cuban cigar. That impressed the ladies.
Wet weather ensued which drove many of us to the beer tent where we listened to Blur and Black Sabbath being covered by a band playing Drums, Banjo, Trombone and Sousaphone while Hoorays pogoed in wet tweed while I blew expensive smoke. A very muddy trudge back to the campsite. The old army Jeeps and Mk1 Land Rovers running a shuttle taxi service having long gone to bed.
Saturday 14th at Goodwood.
I popped my head out of the tent to see a Spitfire Mk 9 lifting off the grass lit by the low morning sun as it prepared for the first "wake up" display. As the roar of its Merlin engine faded I could hear the Rockers motorbikes being chased around the track by the vintage Police cars.
Our Display was not until 4.00 so I set off to explore. Saturday is the first day of full car racing and the public arrived in full force. Celebrity spotting is not my game but I did recognise Rowan Atkinson, Billy Connolly, Jackie Stewart, Alain de Cadenet, Chris Evans and Sir Chris Hoy. I also saw Elvis Presley many times, Generals Slim and McArthur, Elton John, The Cream, the Glamcabs Girls and a cast of thousands of other period clad hopefuls all doing their bit to turn Goodwood into a living museum. Chapeau to us all.
The weather was colder and changing into period cycling gear in the back of the tiny Citroen Camion Balai was a last minute affair close to our allotted track time. We had not bargained for car races running late then lengthy TV interviews with Sir Chris which kept us waiting out in the wind. I could see rain clouds approaching but they mercifully held off. At last we got on to the track to roars of applause and "AllezAllezAllez". The TV crew were still filming Amanda Stretton interviewing Sir Chris as we cycled along all jockeying for position to get " in the picture". At one point the driver missed a gear and there was a screeching of Mafacs as we all braked to avoid a mass mid circuit "chute" with a seven times Olympic gold medallist and TV starlet at the bottom. As we came round to the Chicane about 0.5km from the finish the TV van, Chris Hoy and Amanda peeled off as we all started to sprint for the line. I was doing pretty well when I heard a clang and looked down to see bits of my saddle nose bouncing down the starting grid. So I had overtaken Chris Hoy and bombed RAF Westhampnett with a B17 in one fell swoop. The marshals returned my sad saddle remains and I put them in my musette. After changing I decided I needed more Champagne. It had not been sprayed all over us glorious Vainqueurs as we returned au Village.
I did a splendid blag by accosting the Veuve Clicquot marketing manager-or rather he accosted me-and asking for the Pantone color references of Clicquots rich yellow for a frame respray. This elicited his card and a glass of pink sparkly stuff. Encore!
Afternoon tea was taken in the company of fellow cyclists and the pilot and crew of a magnificent Junkers 52 which was parked right outside giving the impression we could all step aboard, fly to Tempelhof and compete in the 1936 Hitler Olympics. Which, incidentally my Grandfather did, shooting clays for GB.
Nell and I found ourselves atop the Helter Skelter in the vintage fairground just as the sun was setting. The GodRays framing the Spitfire and Mustang pair in tight formation looping the last light of an amazing day.
More pints of specially brewed Goodwood Ale, pulled pork burgers and another cigar rounded off the evening. On the way back Nigel, Nell and I had drinks with some dashing young blades who were there to race their AC sports cars. It was lovely and quiet as I sat and watched the thin clouds scudding across a waxing moon. I could hear my pocket watch ticking between the hoots of nearby Tawny Owls.
Sunday 15th at Goodwood.
Sunshine but the forecast for rain by tea time. I made the most of the morning by clothes hunting in the many retro shops. I was the centre of attention in several specialist tweed emporiums as they marvelled at my suit. I was surprised and delighted to learn that none of them had seen a genuine 1930's cycling suit before. I related the story of buying it for 30 pence in a garage sale many years ago to wear on a NewYears Day shoot in Scotland. Within minutes of stepping outside I froze as a cold easterly penetrated the tweed. I thought no more of it as it languished in a wardrobe until years later I acquired a 1935 Holdsworthy Cyclists Aids booklet. Holdsworthy specialised in clothing and there were pages of dashing gentlemen in their tweed pluses. Bingo! This year it has won me "Best dressed Gent" at the Glasgow and Edinburgh HarrisTweed Rides.
We watched some racing from the Grandstand. It's not often you see a Ferrari get shunted onto the grass, least of all 330GTO reputedly worth 35 million pounds.
As we assembled for our demo the biting wind brought a torrential downpour. All the finely dressed admirers vanished. I was still in my tweeds and could not face changing into shorts and wool top. Nigel's Sciatica was giving him gyp and Nell had been working overseas and wanted to get home so we missed the last Celebrityless rain soaked demonstration and returned smelling like old wet dogs to the 21st Century.

My thanks to Tim Gunn of The Old Bicycle Company.
The Earl of March and Jack Tetley of Goodwood Revival
I hope that we get invited back next year.
Mark Stevens Evanton Scotland
.

Did you ever get an I'd on this? Although it has Fleur de Lis detail it is definitely not by Gillotts. Very fine frame all the same. Mark

Hi Folks, I need a guide to shepherd me from Kings Cross Rail station down to Astbury Road in Peckham. I have cycled in London before but not for 12 years. My train arrives at 16.00hrs on Wednesday 11th Sept,. -next week.
I am coming down from Inverness with my 1955 Gillott Fleur de Lis to ride in the Tour de France Celebration at Goodwood Revival.
I hope someone can help. Thanks. Mark Stevens 07792564114

Cheers, wasnt sure if they do them but yes they do. But theyre on Holiday til May 10th.

I've had an FHScott road path for a while and have just bought a complete road bike from 1956. It has the headbadge but no transfers. It has been resprayed and ''tarted up'' in the past. The Stronglight cranks and Simplex rings have been painted silver. The rust is starting to come through the paint. Has anyone sourced transfers for these bikes?

Can't agree more, she's a beauty. A white saddle would look cool, -bars, panels, saddle. It all fits. Thank god you didnt respray it and well done for stashing all the original bits. Do let me know the frame number and the size of the frame from bottom bracket axle centre to top of seat tube. I'll add it to the Gillott records I keep for the Veteran Cycle Club. Any other Gillott owners want to chime in?

I live in Evanton, 15 miles north of Inverness. In the bonny county of Ross-shire.

Thought I'd chip in and join you guys. Seeing as I get an honourable mention. Also takes me back to my days hacking around the smoke on fixed afore it all got trendy. Not that I am knocking it being trendy, I think it's ultra cool. I used to commute from Hither Green to Camberwell daily, worked at the college. That's how I got into Gillotts. I miss the camaraderie of Critical Mass and the Stop the City protests, even got myself on page 3 of the Guardian giving some yuppies in sports car a hard time. Sounds like it is even more of a gas down there now. Maybe I shall have to visit soon.