Claud Butler 1936 Silver Ace (probably) tandem

[fiveSixteenths]

Time for a new build thread and new territory for me, never owned a tandem and just for double trouble, let’s start with the oldest bike I now have. What could possibly go wrong...

So, we have a (hence the thread title) as a most likely contender, a 1936 Silver Ace. Date stamps on the fork start 64, and with a read through Nikgraff’s CB resources and catalogues, plus and evening’s work on Flickr (where I found an almost duplicate 1938 example with tons of useful reference pics) I’m gong to call it in.

Came with everything show in the first pic. Nothing stuck or seized (except for two of the brass oil port screws, which I might need to drill out (but only if can source two more. Anyone?)

Hunting for frame stamps revealed the several colourful previous lives, back to what I think was the original red. All the decals are gone, no trace I can see so plan is to have it stripped and re-enamelled.

Plan then is to get it back as near original as possible (funds permitted!)

Have a Cyclo mech and changer on the way, a bid in for a Williams chainset and pedals and am looking for a rear hub brake wheel and then levers, rods, calipers, bb bolts, clips, guards, and on and on lol!

All advice and tips vs and links to stuff would be most welcome : )

Right, enough waffle. Here’s some pictures.

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Re:

Stripped down and ready to head off to the painters.
Not going to do this one rattle-can, not when I can get it cleaned and sprayed for £90. If it turns out ok will share where it’s getting done. They’ve not done a tandem before, and it made them laugh as they normally do industrial fixtures and fittings and the frame just fits in the booth lol

 

[Jonny69]

Cool, glad you’ve posted this here!

I take it you’ve spotted this thread too: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=392124

 

[Nob]

Major lengths of seatposts there! Is this a tandem for kids.......or small people?

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Cheers man!
That other post is good.

 

[fiveSixteenths]

I think that it’s quite a small frame, but it’ll help keep the weight down! Well, until several pounds of seat tube goes back in.

 

[Peachy!]

Excellent, I was hoping you’d start a thread…
I’ve never had a tandem and always fancied one, so hoping to get some inspiration…. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful on the ID front, but I agree its reasonable to call it a Silver Ace (by far the best name in the range)…I suspect the main differences might be down to spec rather than frame geometry, but then I’m no expert just a keen amateur…
BTW if you want some better/clearer/larger scans of the 1936 Tandems, just send us a PM, I’m the current custodian of the Nkilgariff Claud Butler Catalogue collection…..

PS…and I’m presuming the Lilac’s not getting repeated? :roll:
PPS and will you be dropping the post 1948 Olympic ring badge that didn’t fit anyway? :facepalm:

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Ha! I’ll try and do the thread justice! Will pm in a bit, some other reference picks would be great help.
Will fill the head tube holes, they were done really well and tapped so am wondering if it was refurbed with that around then.
And no lilac.

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Edit

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Re:

Bit of tidying up and tinfoiling, original (I think?) stem and Captain’s seatpost, both of which had been sprayed silver, which I guess helped arrest worse pitting.
Have filed the drilled badge holes with brass rivets and filed them smooth so hoping the paint will help with that bodge...