New Path Frame with Fancy lugs HELP!

[SNight]

Just acquired this gorgeous path frame which I stumbled upon by chance. It has a nervex bb bracket and a matching frame and fork number of 23068.

It has at one time had fully chromed lugs at the head tube and fork crown, the lugs are quite fancy.

It has track ends and eyelets for mudguards.

The wheels came with a job lot that I purchased with the bike, so just popped them in to take the photos.

I would really appreciate some help with regards to identification?

 

[Midlife]

Nice not sure why but it made me think of old holdsworths with chater lea fittings......

Shaun

 

[SNight]

Re:

It came with a box full of stuff! And 4 pairs of wheels, all sprint rims! There was a chater lea crank set and pedals if that helps

 

[Midlife]

Macleans - holdsworth made the frames for Macleans?

Shaun

 

[DrJo]

I'm thinking Holdsworth too!!
Where is the fork no. located?? photos of fork crown would help too.
try perusing this.
http://www.nkilgariff.com/Models.htm
if it holdsworth it's in there somewhere.......

 

[OldTel]

Re:

Nice frame, delicate in places but build for a purpose, all I do is help with elimination, similar but not a Macleans Apollo, not a Holdsworth, either. Other fancy lug cutters, HE Green and Pat Skeates had serial numbers starting with the year i.e. 53. So where does that leave you, it looks early fifties, but thats about it, no other clues, could you check the serial number isn't 6 digits, maybe a faint trace, if so R.O. Harrison might be worth looking at, from a distance the bottom bracket is Hurlow'ish in decoration but that's just comment, I very much doubt he was involved, based on some of the other lugs, but I mention it, as the builder may of been working with him, I believe he was helping out at end of the Rensch/Paris saga about this time ( not a Paris either the serial numbers only go up to 6000 ish ). Not a lot to go on but I hope it helps. Terry

 

[SNight]

Re:

The fork number is situated on the rear side of the steerer tube. Here's a few photos. Also hardly visible under the serial number is another stamp that reads something like;

A&F
8.9 (The 9 could be an S, it's difficult to see)
32.8

 

[SNight]

Re:

Also, just had a double check of the serial numbers. They are definitely only 5 digits. 23068

 

[DrJo]

fork is a ringer for mine, 5digit same location, identical crown, mines a early holdsworth zephyr, 52/53 ish.
yours is newer I think with fancier lugs. I think it's a 1957 holdsworth hurricane with the NEW lugs.
http://www.nkilgariff.com/HoldsModelPages/Whirlwind.htm
Any better offers??

 

[SNight]

Re:

Thanks DrJo. Those lugs are identical to mine and the frame numbers would tie in too. Reading up a bit more it also states that that model could of been made with track dropouts also like mine. Thanks very much.

I'm guessing that this was quite a good frame in its day then?