Best of British (Components)

[Canuk]

GB’s brakes were like a breath of fresh air in 1945. Within a couple of years GB had a couple of British competitors in the aluminium side pull brake market, the Burlite and the Strata but neither was ever as successful as GB and died by the wayside in the early 50s. By 1948 the brake which is now known as the Hiduminium. It was officially called the Standard) was introduced. The word Hiduminium was heavily stamped into one of the arms – the only GB logo was a faint small one near the cablle anchorage.

Hiduminium was actually the trade name used by Reynolds for many of their aluminium products. The adjustment slot was very long enabling the brake to be used with either 26in or 27in wheels – many frames were built to accomodate both sizes of wheel but the brake reach needed with 26in wheels was 15mm more than with 27s. An extra long reach brake, the Grand Tour which was never made in large numbers was introduced soon after the Hiduminium. GB also started to diversify into making handlebars, stems, wingnuts all of which were to prove very successful.

 

[Glug]

I remember grabbing one of these from off a 40yr old Carlton to rebuild a Holdsworth in the late nineties, extremely well made and built to last!

That one came free on a £20 1952 Bertin frame I bought to practise painting on.
3 years later I've got a 1953 Holdsworth Whirlwind in need of a rusty Brampton Alatet replacement.
I must have done something good somewhere in my lifetime.

 

[Canuk]

GB accessories and small parts

 

[Glug]

I ride GB Tourmalet bars because I like them:



They also provide my stems


(1960s catalogues)

 

[Canuk]

When did the production of GB bars and stems cease?

 

[Glug]

https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_components/gb-the-classic-design/

"The last GB brakes were made in the 1970s – they were really quite low-end products. But GB continued with bars and stems into the early 1990s. And GB has survived – it diversified into tubular furniture in the 1970s and is now one of the largest suppliers of conference furniture in Europe."

So conference furniture still available, anybody got a catalogue ?

 

[Canuk]

https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_components/gb-the-classic-design/

"The last GB brakes were made in the 1970s – they were really quite low-end products. But GB continued with bars and stems into the early 1990s. And GB has survived – it diversified into tubular furniture in the 1970s and is now one of the largest suppliers of conference furniture in Europe."

So conference furniture still available, anybody got a catalogue ?

I think I saw a GB catalogue on Disraeli gears

 

[Canuk]

Some ads and photos and price lists for GB

 

[Canuk]

Can't quite decipher this message to the eventual wheel builder on this Harden hub, anyone?

 

[Canuk]

GB brake levers first pattern c.1946