For (reluctant) sale
Make: Claud Butler
Model: ‘Tour of Britain’ (1956)
Date of original purchase: June 18th 1956, from Rainbow Stores of Gravesend
Paperwork/provenance: Original HP agreement, paying in book and Claud Butler guarantee certificate with matching frame number. Claud Butler catalogue including the ‘Tour of Britain’ model description.
Frame number: 5683287
OIRO: £500
Delivery: We will have to work something out. I live in NW London and never sold a bike like this before (or ever again). Pick up or possibly post (at extra cost)
Specification includes:
Frame: 23 inch, Reynolds 531 with Tour of Britain deep ‘cutaway’ lugs
Gears: 5-speed Campagnolo ‘Gransport’ (I believe it’s a close ratio rear – see images)
Chainwheel and cranks: Williams single chainwheel/cranks
Wheels: Dunlop Special Lightweight steel 27x1-1/4
Brakes: GB ‘Coureur’ side pull, with cable adjusters on the levers
Saddle: Brooks B17F Champion
Tyres: Orange wall tyres (unbranded) to match original look
Colour: Original ‘special’ colour scheme (metallic deep blue with cream headstock and cream decals/cream accent (Dad isn’t around to explain whether he ordered this as a special but Claud Butler catalogue explains that specials were an option, but this is ‘as bought’ in June ‘56 and never resprayed or any paint repairs undertaken). Some light chips here and there as you would expect on a near 70-year-old bike.
Sale description:
I am pleased to present my late Dad’s 1956 Claude Butler "Tour of Britain" road bike for sale. Offered on here first before it goes to eBay. One very careful owner, sadly departed.
My dad’s pride and joy, it was purchased new on June 18th, 1956, from Rainbow Stores of Gravesend with frame number 5683287. Finished in a deep blue metallic finish it is in quite remarkable condition for its age – the colour is just fantastic – see images. Last ridden around 1986, it has sat inside the house (covered) until 2020 when I inherited it. With a 23inch frame it’s too big for me and sentimentality has to give way - it now has to go. All original paint work, the only changes to the 1956 bike are new wheel hubs (I have the old ones if you want them), new spokes, tyres, bar tape, cables and brake blocks, fitted in June 2021. The re-spoking, general servicing and sympathetic clean-up/refurb was undertaken by Northwood Cycles – Look at June 2021 entries to see the work they carried out to get it looking like it does now. A really nice job – receipt available if required. (https://www.facebook.com/northwoodcycles/?locale=en_GB)
For those who worry about these things, the seat post is nice and free (some bikes seize up apparently). Also, the bike is subject of some previous posts on Retro bikes. Original thread: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/claud-butler-mystery-model-1950s.430448/#post-3145730.
Let me know if you are interested or have any questions.
Make: Claud Butler
Model: ‘Tour of Britain’ (1956)
Date of original purchase: June 18th 1956, from Rainbow Stores of Gravesend
Paperwork/provenance: Original HP agreement, paying in book and Claud Butler guarantee certificate with matching frame number. Claud Butler catalogue including the ‘Tour of Britain’ model description.
Frame number: 5683287
OIRO: £500
Delivery: We will have to work something out. I live in NW London and never sold a bike like this before (or ever again). Pick up or possibly post (at extra cost)
Specification includes:
Frame: 23 inch, Reynolds 531 with Tour of Britain deep ‘cutaway’ lugs
Gears: 5-speed Campagnolo ‘Gransport’ (I believe it’s a close ratio rear – see images)
Chainwheel and cranks: Williams single chainwheel/cranks
Wheels: Dunlop Special Lightweight steel 27x1-1/4
Brakes: GB ‘Coureur’ side pull, with cable adjusters on the levers
Saddle: Brooks B17F Champion
Tyres: Orange wall tyres (unbranded) to match original look
Colour: Original ‘special’ colour scheme (metallic deep blue with cream headstock and cream decals/cream accent (Dad isn’t around to explain whether he ordered this as a special but Claud Butler catalogue explains that specials were an option, but this is ‘as bought’ in June ‘56 and never resprayed or any paint repairs undertaken). Some light chips here and there as you would expect on a near 70-year-old bike.
Sale description:
I am pleased to present my late Dad’s 1956 Claude Butler "Tour of Britain" road bike for sale. Offered on here first before it goes to eBay. One very careful owner, sadly departed.
My dad’s pride and joy, it was purchased new on June 18th, 1956, from Rainbow Stores of Gravesend with frame number 5683287. Finished in a deep blue metallic finish it is in quite remarkable condition for its age – the colour is just fantastic – see images. Last ridden around 1986, it has sat inside the house (covered) until 2020 when I inherited it. With a 23inch frame it’s too big for me and sentimentality has to give way - it now has to go. All original paint work, the only changes to the 1956 bike are new wheel hubs (I have the old ones if you want them), new spokes, tyres, bar tape, cables and brake blocks, fitted in June 2021. The re-spoking, general servicing and sympathetic clean-up/refurb was undertaken by Northwood Cycles – Look at June 2021 entries to see the work they carried out to get it looking like it does now. A really nice job – receipt available if required. (https://www.facebook.com/northwoodcycles/?locale=en_GB)
For those who worry about these things, the seat post is nice and free (some bikes seize up apparently). Also, the bike is subject of some previous posts on Retro bikes. Original thread: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/claud-butler-mystery-model-1950s.430448/#post-3145730.
Let me know if you are interested or have any questions.
