New Member from Essex

[Losgaintir]

Hello,
I am a new member from Brightlingsea, in Essex. U.K.
Have owned an old Claud Butler for several years, that I used to take motor caravanning.
All that I knew then, was that it was pretty light and reckoned it might date back to the 60's or early 70's.
I decided to try and establish the model and year more accurately, in order to determine, whether a restoration to original specification was a viable.
I have carried out an extensive internet search, trawling through old Claud Butler catalogues, but no luck.
I have found references to various of its distinguishing features, but sadly, never all on the the same year or model.
It has a six digit number stamped clearly under the bottom bracket of 841852 and sports a lugless frame, with the new (193 C.B. continental rear fork end. It also has very slim, compound tapered seat stays with long fluted tops( cat. ref. of 1949)
Unable to post images yet, but hope that there may be some Claud Butler marque experts on the forum, who can help
Colin

 

[OldTel]

Re:

Hi, sounds like a April 1948 ( 1st digit year , second is the month ), the piccies will help, be aware the catalogues were produced for trade fairs in the november and december the year before, so by the time bikes were produced the following year, things may be quite different, so be ware of the catalogues, they are guides not bibles. Terry

 

[Losgaintir]

Re:

Hello Terry and thanks for your input.
A few more snippets of information that may or may not help with identification.
Apart from the brazed on pump pegs for a 15" or16" pump (not sure how you measure these, between the points, or between the vertical pegs?) there are no other brazed guides for cables, or bosses for gear levers, etc. on the frame.
Do you know when the transition from Head Tube transfer to Head Tube metal badge took place, as this might also help
Colin

 

[OldTel]

Re:

Hi Colin, welcome to the world of post ww2 frames, frame fittings, any supplies were hard to come by, lugless frames were a common sight as they required no lugs. As far as transition is concerned, I've seen the decal on a 1956 bikes, again they used what was available, when supplies of the badges were low, they used the decal, it was a different world from today's. Terry

 

[Losgaintir]

Re:

Hello Terry, once again thanks for your insights.
There is something about the bike that smacks of the immediate post war years, austerity etc and as you say, one could only use what was available. Even the first, post war Claud catalogue, was a mere shadow of its immediate pre war counterpart, in pages and content.
Colin