ignatzcatz
Dirt Disciple
I recently got a tip regarding an old Claud Butler which was purchased new in 1947 by a gentleman who recently had passed away. His son had found the bike in the loft of his late fathers' house and recalled polishing this bike for his father in his younger days. He had expressed a desire to have this bike restored back to its' former glory and this is where I come in to the picture. So I got hold of the bike as I have just completed the restoration of a similar vintage Claud. My Claud was a fixed wheel lugless machine and surprisingly this bike although it being a road bike was also lugless. I checked the frame number and its' indicated manufacture is June 1946 so the heritage certainly rings true. I didn't get much else with the frame, only a right hand crank, the bottom bracket fittings, headset some very tired alloy mudguards but the brakes turned out to be the star turn. They are Doherty brakes. They were made in England around 1950 but I know little else about them. Rare they certainly are and they are in quite good order. The crank and 1/8th ring looks very much like an Agrati make but without the left hand crank I think the finished article will have a Williams set.
So the restoration is under way, shot blasting then I shall spray the frame in its' original apple green colour in 2K, panelling and lug-lineing as per period. Components will come from my 'stores' including Airlite hubs on Dunlop special lightweight steel rims, Campagnolo Valentino rear mech, Brooks B17 narrow saddle, and I may go to GB Coureur brakes as I have a complete set of these and save the Dohertys for something else. I'm not sure on the stem yet but I do have some lovely North road bars to use.
Now the only problem is that the frame is 23" which is to big for my 5'6" stature so I shall either sell the bike or just add it to my collection.
I shall post some pics as I progress.
So the restoration is under way, shot blasting then I shall spray the frame in its' original apple green colour in 2K, panelling and lug-lineing as per period. Components will come from my 'stores' including Airlite hubs on Dunlop special lightweight steel rims, Campagnolo Valentino rear mech, Brooks B17 narrow saddle, and I may go to GB Coureur brakes as I have a complete set of these and save the Dohertys for something else. I'm not sure on the stem yet but I do have some lovely North road bars to use.
Now the only problem is that the frame is 23" which is to big for my 5'6" stature so I shall either sell the bike or just add it to my collection.
I shall post some pics as I progress.