MTB, Pollard ???

[nastro62]

Had this MTB for quite a while. I've never fully trusted whether it actually is a Pollard. You know, just because it has Pollard decals, doesn't automatically make it a Pollard. It just doesn't fit the kind of stuff that Pollard did, and if it's a Pollard, it's late on in their history, although the frame workmanship is old school. I'm a sucker for fillet brazing, so this Ebay bargain became mine. I stuck bar ends, SPD pedals and a B17 on it, but apart from that, it's as I bought it. Hubs are solid axle Sun Tour, rear block is close ratio which gives smooth easy shifting. Any comments or observations are welcome.

 

[kingoffootball]

I can't be of any help with information, but I love that. It's a good job I haven't seen anything that cool and in that size on Ebay, because I have no room but not sure I could resist.

Any build plans or does that depend on confirming Pollard as the maker first?

 

[nastro62]

I can't be of any help with information, but I love that. It's a good job I haven't seen anything that cool and in that size on Ebay, because I have no room but not sure I could resist.

Any build plans or does that depend on confirming Pollard as the maker first?

I think the bike is generally fine as it is. The paint isn't perfect, but doesn't warrant the cost of a decent re-enamel. The rear sealed bearing hub is rough, so that needs sorting. The seatpost binder bolt needs a trim. I'd like to put matching tyres on, nothing too chunky though. Other than that it's overdue for a complete bearing service & wheel true/tension check. It's not a normal restoration as I have no guide as to what the components were when it was first built up.

 

[narcotitlan]

How cool is that?! With the lack of a sleeve on the seatpost cluster and the rear flat canti hanger, it looks similar to my old Bromwich Cyclone which was badged as Evans cycles. Great colours.

 

[narcotitlan]

My two long gone cyclones:

 

[nastro62]

My two long gone cyclones:
View attachment 838574

View attachment 838573

Thank you so much for commenting & putting these photos my way. There is one big connection between my "Pollard" and those 2 Bromwich bikes. The little tube brazed onto the seat stays that looks like it's for a pannier rack is the same on all 3 frames. I have never seen rack mounting done like this elsewhere. The style & details on the Bromwich & "Pollard" frames seems very close. You sound more clued up on the origins of the Bromwich bikes you had than I am about the "Pollard". I'm not greatly bothered as to whether my bike is badged wrongly, it's such a nice bike that I can forgive it. I'm certainly in an open mind about whether mine's a Bromwich too.

 

[retrobikeguy]

Bromwich was my thinking too....

Bromwich 1989

• retrobikeguy
• Feb 5, 2022

 

[retrobate]

So what's the conclusion then? Built by Bromwich or Jim McIlwain or Lee Cooper (both with Bromwich in the past I believe)?

 

[narcotitlan]

Thank you so much for commenting & putting these photos my way. There is one big connection between my "Pollard" and those 2 Bromwich bikes. The little tube brazed onto the seat stays that looks like it's for a pannier rack is the same on all 3 frames. I have never seen rack mounting done like this elsewhere. The style & details on the Bromwich & "Pollard" frames seems very close. You sound more clued up on the origins of the Bromwich bikes you had than I am about the "Pollard". I'm not greatly bothered as to whether my bike is badged wrongly, it's such a nice bike that I can forgive it. I'm certainly in an open mind about whether mine's a Bromwich too.

Yeah I reckon you’re right not to be too bothered. Jim Mcilwain built my yellow bike, when I got it it was badged as an Evans. I ‘creatively’ put on Bromwich decals after a repaint because of the connection, but I guess I should have technically left it as Evans

Jim may well have built frames for Pollard too.

 

[nastro62]

Yeah I reckon you’re right not to be too bothered. Jim Mcilwain built my yellow bike, when I got it it was badged as an Evans. I ‘creatively’ put on Bromwich decals after a repaint because of the connection, but I guess I should have technically left it as Evans

Jim may well have built frames for Pollard too.

Thanks again for your insight. V cool !