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Around 1900 American bikes used wood rims normally Elm. In europe wood rims for racing were American maple with 4 laminations, best were made in Paris.

Mrs K used to have one far more worn on her training bike. A 55 very early campagnolo (pre anodising) and she change on the front in same point of rotation, so several teeth were completely worn away. The inside ring would be either 51 or 52, . Keith

Millions of roadster bikes (bolt on rear seat stays) were made without locknuts.. The hub nuts held the cones, we tended to adjust the wheel so that there was a very little play at the rim. they were not usually very accurately made either. Some had axles with a shoulder with a fixed cone tight...

No frame building, had a few rebadged holdsworthy top frames around 1970.

Possibly the fork blades were made straight, then beaten and curved round a wooden former. Plenty of UK frame builders reshaped the standard reynolds fork blades. Keith

Perhaps the flat blued washer is not in the lever . This is deflected by the chrome outer convex washer to create adjustable friction.

No seizing, just some 15 turns of thread which are very slightly released by the pressure. In the 60s I used to buy Regina blocks in lots of 50 minimum. A new block and french bramptom chain was charged out at £1/12/6 pence (£1.70 ) which was the retail price of the 2 parts. I expected to do...

Having done thousands of these in the 1950/60s I can assure you that the pressure from a wheel nut or QR does help. apart from securing the removing tool. Of course this does not apply to splined removers.

I have seen frames flexible enough to pull the cable every time you pedal. Check by standing by the side of the bike and putting some weight on a pedal. If so you could use cable outer for some of the cable route.

The better way is to tighten the QR as much as you can. The pressure helps release the block. Loosen the qr as soon as the freewheel releases.

Whatever you decide the remains of the freewheel will have to be removed. If you have a vice, clamp the freewheel and turn anticlockwise. Overtightening the vice will squeeze the part into the threads making removal much harder. If you plan to reuse the part protect it from further damage. We...

It may not be Classique, it carries a lamp bracket boss on the forks. Or perhaps earlier than the catalogue shown? Also has the wrong handlebar stem. The catalogue shows one of those heavyweight Holdsworthy own make. Keith

Probably sold as frame only. With purchase tax on complete bikes but not on components it was possible to build a better spec for less, and vary as required. These were a good value well made by Holdsworthy frame, about 2/3 the price of a butted 531 lightweight. Holdsworthy used Reynolds grade A...

The old Raleigh bottom bracket shell you have was only wider because the RH cup was screwed inside the edge, whereas standard RH bracket cups had a shoulder. I have no idea how this affects axle length. Keith

26 x 1 1/2 {26 by one and a half} as I said, very rare even in the 1950s

Wheel size is very rare. We saw very few of these even in 1950s, BSA used them on a juvenile bike late 30s. You might have to settle for 26 x 1 3/8. The rear hub would have been single sided with probably 18 t freewheel. There may be other places you could search for details, I am not an...

Wheels are most likely 28 x 1 1/2, re-spoking is easy if the rim is OK. If the 2 speed is in the chainwheel do not lose any parts, it may be possible to rebuild it. clear close up pictures are required please. Keith

From shaky memory NO. More likely the year. I think they were rebadged Altenburger. Keith

Normal French practice to stick a bit of wood at the bottom of the fork crown with the brake bolt also holding it.. They didn't trust their fork columns. A fracture above the fork crown is the one place that instantly shoves your face into the road. This piece of wood gives you a warning and...

You have not yet put the wheel in the correct forward position which gets the changing fork closer to the cogs. Thats what Osgear ends are for, so much better than standard ends. Keith