Help me identify my Claud

[Will McArgo]

Hi, I purchased a Claud butler, believed to be 1960s. It has been restored by previous owner. I am struggling to find which bike it is/ was. It has gb primo bars with map of Scicily engraved on them, milremo stem, weinnmen centre pull 750s,.the frame a reynolds 531 with pump lugs on the top tube, to fit an 18 inch pump.
Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[Big Block]

have you located the frame number?

and this is an excellent resource
http://www.nkilgariff.com/ClaudButler.htm

 

[Will McArgo]

Frame number is 70712,
Thanks for link. Still cannot see it, perhaps it had been painted a few years back?!

 

[Will McArgo]

Frame number is 70712,
Thanks for link. Still cannot see it, perhaps it had been painted a few years back?!

 

[Will McArgo]

 

[keithglos]

Re:

Looks like late 60's or 1970, obviously from Holdsworthy.
Most were sold as frame only, Holdsworthy would never have used Milremo products, from a main competitor.

Self build gave the user a choice of parts, and without the purchase tax.

Keith

 

[Will McArgo]

Cheers Keith. I will start thumbing the holdsworthy pages!

 

[Will McArgo]

A 1976/ 7 cresta!

Thanks Keith

 

[CBguy]

I agree with c.1976 for frame number 70712. A couple years back, in trying to sort out the date of my own '68 Claud Butler, I looked at the numbering system for similar vintage Holdsworthy Claud Butlers .

Using internet sources I collected a dozen or more Claud Butler numbers from period '66 to '76. It would seem 'round about 1966 Claud Butler Holdsworthy factory frames were given their own new sequential numbering system beginning at ~ 50000 and progressing at a rate of ~ 2000 frames per year until sometime around 1976 when reached 70000ish. At that time, Holdsworthy moved to the new larger factory on Oakfield Road and coincident with the move appear to have lumped all Holdsworth and Claud Butlers frames together in a new 6 digit sequential numbering system all beginning with 0.

Although I have never seen this Claud Butler '66 - '76 number system described, I suspect others have observed the same. Would be interesting to read any comments,

 

[stevelawson]

Re:

My 1967 ish Claud Butler Spectra is Number 30237