1959 Holdsworth Hurricane

[ScillySuffolk]

I found a 1960 bike on Classic Lightweights s/n 27338, so mine (27250) looks to be 1959/60.

Seems it's a Hurricane: Zephyr and Cyclone had wrapover seat stays; Monsoon didn't have pump pegs or a lamp bracket. Intriguingly the Hurricane was available (up to 1959) as fixed gear: my wheelset (Racelite) is of the period and the DTS bosses and gear hanger look unused.

A couple of things that don't quite tie-in though: now the wheels are off, I have confirmed that it has Campag dropouts and not Agrati; my pump pegs are on the seat tube and the '58 had them on the down tube and by '60/'61 they were on the top tube.

Other discoveries are a Villiers lockring and GB bars. Could the mudguards be original? The '58 catalogue describes them as being of "celluloid": this is early plastic? Any ideas on the chainset?

More pics here.

 

[bagpuss]

Nice machine.
Looks like a Williams chainset IMHO.

 

[sisyphus]

Lovely old holdsworth - yes hes right its a Williams chainset and this was standard on Holdsworths at this time.
I might change the seat to a Brooks and that stem but apart rom that it looks classic.

 

[ScillySuffolk]

Thanks gents!

Of course it needs a Brooks and a GB stem (that'll cost me), apart from that I'm now convinced it is as it left the shop in '59 (except for the tyres).

 

[Spokesmann]

Ticks all the boxes for me. Just loose that saddle. Only a Brooks or Lycett will do!

 

[ScillySuffolk]

After a bit of research on Williams, I was able to find their branding on the cranks.

Now 95% certain that this was fixed gear when it left the shop, rather than being a conversion, albeit with some variations to the catalogue spec: pump peg position and Campag dropouts.

As it is in such great condition, I'll be doing a "patina refurbishment" rather than a restoration: so basically just cleaning & polishing, fitting gumwall tyres & B15 Swallow and sourcing a suitable stem.

 

[sisyphus]

Yes it's lovely and could well have left the shop as a single speed

 

[Midlife]

Nice

Interesting stem.....does it have milling on the sides only, triangular retaining nut for the handlebar bolt, and a sort of thin black anodising that should have been black but looks brown in the sunlight ?

Shaun

 

[ScillySuffolk]

Yes Shaun that is exactly it!

I'm intrigued: what is it?

I'd assumed it was a cheap, modern item...

 

[ScillySuffolk]

A bit more info gleaned in my CycleChat thread.