Bill Hannington Lightweight

[Toecutter]

I've just finished building this one up from a frame; a Bill Hannington of Reading, Berks. Bill was making frames in Reading from the 1950's onward and was closely connected with the local cycle clubs; latterly Reading CC. He also supplied frames to Len Buttrey's cycle shop in Oxford Road, Reading who sold them with their own transfers - I'm very lucky to own one of these. In later years Bill was producing frames from his garden shed in Emmer Green and I understand this example was presented to a long time Reading CC member as a gift circa 1980's. I've used a mixture of parts; SR Drilled 52/42 Chain set, Shimano gears, Wolber large flange Q/R 700 clinchers, GB stem and engraved bars with Weinmann brakes. The frame came devoid of any down tube lettering and so far I've been unable to find any pictures of a Hannington with them. Another owner says it was block lettering but his were lost after a repaint and thinks I've got it right. Any confirmation welcome. What's it like to ride? Goes like the proverbial dream and more besides.

 

[dttlincs]

Did you get any decals?
I just aquired a Hannington frame supposedly Bills own bike at some point in time

 

[Toecutter]

..that's a result, any chance of putting up a picture please? Re the transfers I had some made up in black block lettering in the style and size that someone remembered them to be - see the photo of the bike on this post. I ended up selling the frame at the Chalfont Jumble earlier this year as it was just a bit on the large size. On the plus side I've acquired a Howell of Reading (Cemetery Junction) frame circa 1950s and I wonder if that might have been built by B.H.
Best wishes,
Shaun

 

[dttlincs]

Will get some pictures later. Only unboxed it late last night.
It does have remnants of some bold black lettering on the headtube. Also some on the downtube in white i think.
On seat tube there is quite a bit of a wreath type emblem with "precision lightweights reading" and i think a cspital H

 

[Toecutter]

Cheers for that. Here's a picture of the transfer used on the head and seat tubes which may be of interest.
Shaun

 

[dttlincs]

I had seen one like that in the net, maybe even that photo.
I think mine just had bold black Hannington going top to bottom on the HT twice side by side. Will try and show in photo later.
Fastback stays. Lugs have 3 holes in each

 

[dttlincs]

 

[Toecutter]

That's an interesting looking frame, 22 inches? - the transfer on the seat tube particularly so and I wonder what the rest of it would have looked like. Is that the faint remains of the lettering on the down tube? That will look a stunner when rebuilt.
Shaun

 

[dttlincs]

Top tube c2c 22.5inch.
Diwn tube centre BB to top 22inch.
Needs tge middle cable guide replacing on top tube and seatpost currently stuck so by time sorted may need a repaint but will look nice

 

[Toecutter]

I'm intrigued by the transfer which is different to the ones on my frame and on the other which I posted here - that was on a child's bike trailer built by BH. Are you sure it's a Hannington frame? If so, perfect size should you ever wish to move it on. The paintwork has a nice look too.
Cheers. Shaun