Henry Lloyd bike history

[3wheeler7]

Another Henry Lloyd (from the same Ebay seller) although I doubt it's from the 60s!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266413367146?hash=item3e07795f6a:g:RwQAAOSwMIJlBKas&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAA4H8jEyJqWb2IKL2YP4s1X6UXeybocbVuIbWpfS+M4rHamCcTVL9EYpO/LVNr1Cv4Hn65d2jpH6E7IwQGzkoWfGBSB+/3gPdjR6vjm72d23CbUStJFwAGotsEYdQw60pMCvwXwUVxTi7PrAJRL/wY62HWXrz+wc7QffgRBsTLNg7OUv8ebtRxlYb09Zv5bRnWM9YikY2Zsyc8Dosw4S5gk1EqG9fbhIwBUB62xX0k7iAcNGCMmSon80h6PpHxRJ0zW+9w13WBNoDDLwmWb86ZmntAATKnLiO7kjkcnch8PYEq|tkp:Bk9SR8TVm9DmYg

 

[Jesper]

Henry Lloyd owned a bike shop in Netherfield, Notts, and ran Notts and Derby Clarion CC, my one and only club.
I believe that Francis Grafton and Chalky White took over the shop from Henry and built the frames - but I might be a bit mixed up with that.
No doubt someone will be along with more info!

Thank you for that info. Would you have any idea as to the year when operations changed hands? Was Henry still in ownership/partnership, or retired from the business.
I am just trying to ascertain if Henry could have built this frame himself. I have no idea as to his age at the time this frame was built. I am hoping that there is some sort of mark that might distinguish the builder once I have it in hand.

 

[3wheeler7]

Hi, sorry, I don't know much about what happened at the shop after the mid 70s and I wasn't aware of them building frames at that time, but I'll have an ask around.

 

[Jesper]

Hi, sorry, I don't know much about what happened at the shop after the mid 70s and I wasn't aware of them building frames at that time, but I'll have an ask around.

Online searching provides nothing. Not sure when the Reynolds "Special Lightweight" tube set was superseded by the "Professional" tube set; but I have seen (per owner) frames made with "Pro" tubes from 1980. So I would put this frame at circa 1979 at the latest if the "Special Lightweight" was no longer available after the "Pro" set was introduced.

Given the frame features with DT bottle cage mounts I would highly doubt this frame to be from the 60s or early 70s; but if the shop was no longer building frames in the late 70s then I assume it to be mid 70s vintage.

 

[3wheeler7]

Hi, what I meant was that to my knowledge they weren't building frames before the mid 70s.
From what I've found out, Francis and Mick were helping run the shop from the late 70s and took it over sometime in the late 80s in Henry Lloyds later years. The shop closed in the early 90s.
I suspect your frame was built in the mid to late 80s.
It's thought that Mick went to work at Freewheel bike shop on Hockley Nottingham - which I don't think exsists now.
I think Francis is still active with the Nottingham Clarion Cycling Club - you may be able to contact him there.
https://www.nottinghamclarion.co.uk/2-uncategorised/10-racing

 

[Jesper]

Hi, what I meant was that to my knowledge they weren't building frames before the mid 70s.
From what I've found out, Francis and Mick were helping run the shop from the late 70s and took it over sometime in the late 80s in Henry Lloyds later years. The shop closed in the early 90s.
I suspect your frame was built in the mid to late 80s.
It's thought that Mick went to work at Freewheel bike shop on Hockley Nottingham - which I don't think exsists now.
I think Francis is still active with the Nottingham Clarion Cycling Club - you may be able to contact him there.
https://www.nottinghamclarion.co.uk/2-uncategorised/10-racing

Thank you for that info. I will try and reach out to Francis and see if he can help if he's available. The rear drop-out may be an indicator as to the earliest it could be. Not sure what model that Shimano d-o is (maybe "UF"?). Did Lloyd ever build frames, or was he just a shop owner?

 

[3wheeler7]

On the Clarion website under the History tab there's a bit regarding Henry but no mention of the shop, I know he had brazing tackle etc but maybe it was for modifications and repairs. The club still award the "Henry Lloyd Cup" each year amongst their trophies.
I've heard no mention of frames from ealier years and the only frames I've seen are yours and the track frame currently on Ebay (that is built using Tange No 1 tubing which I believe was introduced in the 80s - so it can't be a 60s frame).
Good luck with your frame history search and I'll keep my ear to the ground for any more info.

 

[3wheeler7]

Your drop outs appear to be these, picture from Velobase site.

 

[Jesper]

Your drop outs appear to be these, picture from Velobase site.

I just received the frame (got home 2am USA eastern); no damage! Wow, this frame is noticeably lighter than a Columbus "SL" frame of similar size (or maybe I am convincing myself of it). I do not have (that I know of) any 753 or 531 Pro frames, to compare with. I do have a Columbus lugged "EL" frame, but it's built-up.
I cleaned up the drop-out to see if I could discern the model. It is a "UF" per the stamp, but it does not have the upper derailleur stop like the "UF" & "UF20" models shown as examples in Velobase. I have not yet referred to existing Shimano catalogs to see if it is shown.. Unfortunately, front and rear drop-outs are not chromed and there is substantial surface oxidation (no real pitting) making it hard (maybe impossible) to determine if the upper stop tab was removed at or after the initial building, or if the drop-out was a variant of the aforementioned models that did not incorporate the upper tab.

There is an alphanumeric stamped on the steerer tube and BB shell: "L861". I have no idea of its meaning other than to make assumptions which I will not do.
Steerer also has " REYNOLDS 531 BUTTED 16/13 " stamped on it.

Frame (approximately): seat tube 54.5cm c-c, top tube 54cm, rear fork 125mm, BB shell 68mm/Eng.

 

[3wheeler7]

Your assumption of the frame number is probably the same as mine - 1st frame made in 1986.