Claud Butler 1960?

[Broadside]

Hi, Can anyone help de-mystify this one ?? It looks to have all the hallmarks of a 1960 CB but the forks and fork crown seem odd compared to all the other images I've seen. The crown is a Legere pattern 2 as far as I can tell (flat on top unlike most the CB's) and the forks are much straighter with more rake right at the very bottom - a bit like some of the older Grubbs. Frame number is 5860 on BB and steerer. I've owned since the early seventies (now modernised but still have old parts)
Thanks
Graham

 

[Peachy!]

on the face of it, looks like an early Holdsworth Claud and I agree, the number points towards 1960
I first thought Challenge or Coureur but then I noticed the rear dropouts look cast not stamped?
If cast front & back perhaps an early Cordon Bleu. Over the first few years Holdsworth did muck about with bits & bats.

 

[Broadside]

Thanks for that, I'm not sure about the dropouts as there's quite a bit of paint on them. You saying they used bits and bat's would explain the use of a different fork crown and what looks like an earlier fork style though.
Do you think we can say it's definitely a Claud though (or at least out of the Holdsworth stable)? As I'd like to get some decals on it and give it at least some form of identity.
Thanks

 

[Broadside]

Rear dropouts

 

[Peachy!]

Yeah those rear are cast, possibly Agreti?
The only model that year with cast dropouts was the Cordon Bleu. Although the lugs don’t match up with the 1962+ models (like mine, see in my description links below)
That doesn’t mean it isn’t as Holdsworth were mucking about a bit in the first few years of Claud ownership.
Things I would put my name besides;
1960
Holdsworth Claud
At least Reynolds 531, probably double butted as they wouldn’t had bothered with decent dropouts otherwise

 

[Broadside]

Here's a few of the parts that were on it when I first had the bike - sometime in the early 70's.....

 

[Broadside]

pedals, levers and wheels