First restoration project - Claude Butler

[Tomaselli]

Hi all,

My first post, but also to say 'Hi' and what a fab forum/website

Last summer I picked up a frame with a view to custom building a single speed 'retro' style bike. I am pretty much 90% completed in the components that I will be using, and it's taking longer than I had imagined to source the parts needed but that's also enjoyable.

The geometry of this frame (24 1/2") I have carefully chosen, which hopefully will suit my torso/leg length.

On reflection, I quite like the patina and just wondered if folk would welcome a rebuild/resto without a paint job to the frame. Would also be interested to know any info on the frame, and also what period it may be from.

Build will start soon, and can keep folk updated with progress

Pics of frame the day I received it, and after a quick wipe down;

 

[oonaff]

m really pretty ! i like the h bar stem .do you think the threads got stripped and the nut/bolt
was added ? any chance of a snap the art work on the seat tube ? nice lugs. are they nervex?. whenever i see lugs like
these i wonder how they would like lined.but i think these and the paint look fine.
for a laugh i will guess 1955.

kevin t gerbil[the key to a good paintjob is not too many close ups when its finished :roll: ]

 

[Cefnbikie]

That is a very nice frame, and the colour and patina look great. The stem is a GB spearpoint made from forged 'hiduminium', and the nut and bolt for tightening the handlebars look original. I have one that came from a 1954 Carlton, but the oiler/nipple on the bottom bracket shell of your CB could indicate an earlier date.

 

[Midlife]

Nice . Looks a bit Holdsworth ish with the curved rear bridge and lugwork plus metal badge. Late 1950 early 60's ? After Holdsworth bought CB ?

Shaun

 

[cycletothesea]

Lovely blue, paintwork looks pretty good, definitely not warranting of a respray - just a bit of elbow grease and T-Cut.

 

[Diamant_Don]

Personally I wouldn't respray it… the paint and decals still seem to be in pretty cool condition. What components are you going for?

 

[mydadscondor]

Yes I agree it would be a shame to respray it. I've just noticed a similar Claude Butler frame for sale on EBay for £25!

 

[Doubledee]

Re:

very nice the lugs certainly look like nervex so I guess the dates suggested are correct. The frames of that era can take some serious cleaning, I restored an earlier 1951 model and it took cif cream cleaner but I wouldn't use unless required and first in place thats not visible in case it dulls the finish. A stiff brush with soap and water followed by muck off or similar will really brighten it up as these frames were truly oven baked (stove enamelled) to harden the paint.

 

[Tomaselli]

Re:

Thanks for the warm welcome guys

Yes, it attracted me to the frame how cheap they are on eBay, but hadn't appreciated (fully) how old the bike was. I thought mid 60's - so thanks again for the input.

Agree, I will keep the patina. It would be a shame to loose the decals, assuming they are original to the frame.

Pic of seat tube as requested, again I will leave as is. Possible freshen by some elbow grease (as now advised) cutting polish to bring the paint up without fading the decals/stickers.

As far as what components I am using, I have to apologise to any purists but it will be built as a single speed with a whole load of parts that are not 'period' - but, appeal to me

In no particular order, I have so far the following;

Dia Compe Lever Hoods
Ideale Benelux seat
Campag Super Record Brake Levers, early 70's
Campag Gran Sport brakes
Baylis Wiley bottom bracket - came with frame
GB Spearpoint 'hiduminium' stem - (as now learnt from this fine forum) also came with frame.
Williams chainring
Pista track bars, from 1947, alloy - came from a single owner Carlton.
Regina Extra (NOS) single seed freewheel, 18 teeth.
Renolds period 1/8th chain.
Staral Rims
Campag Record Hubs.

Can't wait to get 'cracking' on the build. Happy to post up more images as and when I make progress - might be in the warmer weather as I am pushed for space. In the garage I have an old Sunbeam and the petrol tanks need to be resealed for the summer :mrgreen:

Some more pics in the meantime

you'll have gathered from my surname, that I do like Italian parts

 

[Spokesmann]

Cracking frame. Love the colour and decals, I have a couple of Suns with all sorts of lovely artwork on the main downtime espousing past glories. Love it.