My 1939 Claud Butler Super Arrow.

[Psimpson]

A hankering to take part in The Vintage Velo d'Anjou and a chance conversation with someone who had an old bike hanging in his shed saw me parting with £40 for this poor old girl and the start of a long journey yet to be finished.

The paint was so dulled that I could only start to identify it by wiping it with water, all I could see was it was British Racing Green and it had some blokes name in gold on the downtube. Claud Butler, whoever that was.

So began much searching on the internet......

 

[Psimpson]

Re:

Having stripped the Bike down and keeping the bits that were worth salvaging I sent the frame and forks off to Mario Vaz and awaited the results, not to be dissapointed.

Keeping as close to the original colours as possible.

Fitted with the parts I decided to keep.

So the rebuild begins....

 

[Peachy!]

Ah ha! this is what we want to see....

 

[Psimpson]

Re:

Having wasted a bit of time in trying to get a local Claud Butler Dealer to help me in the rebuild I had to go it alone to get the Bike ready for my Vintage Velo d'Anjou ride in 2 months, eek.

A trip up to Wales with the Frame and new wheels( 27"!!!!) to Hilary Stone to see what he had in stock to get me going.

Yes the Wheels were a mistake, but we shall return to them.

NOS Magistroni Crankset.

Galli Brake Calipers.

Galli Levers.

Suntour shifter.

Suntour rear mech.

SR Stem.

All completely wrong in terms of date but I consoled myself that they might have been upgrades the Bike might have had in its life and it allowed me to finish the bike in time for Anjou.

 

[Psimpson]

Re:

The Bike as ready for Anjou, nice looking I think but not quite right.

Anjou complete and the Butler continues development...

 

[Peachy!]

More....

 

[Psimpson]

Re:

Post Anjou? Many tweaks;

Upturned North End Bars, with grips.

Still not quite right.

Lacquered bar tape and Weinman rims with 4-speed SA?

Wheels yes, bars still not right.

Maybe its just the colour of the tape and brake levers?

Mmmmm....

The next years Anjou.

Lined up with the other oldies.

Still not right, what to do....?

 

[Psimpson]

Re:

Maybe it's just the bars?

I think it's getting there.... or maybe...

 

[Peachy!]

Nope, thats it... job done. now post a spec and get it entered into RbotM

 

[avalonian]

Anyone else going to Anjou in 2019, my wife and I will be there, maybe meet up ?