Old crank/ chainring set....what make/model...??

[rick23]

Hi all! I am putting an old chainset on Ebay. It may well have some age to it as was given to me a long time ago by a keen elderly cyclist who had raced seriously when younger.

I did wonder if it was a Williams but am having difficulty definitively identifying it exactly.

These informative links are of use dating and identifying: http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/wi ... ating.html

and http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/co ... ation.html

This set I have uses square nuts which I think makes it pre '54, and seems to have a date? stamp "N" which the Williams site suggests is 1928. I am not sure if this is a C34, the chainring is not the same as others I have seen with that designation such as in this 1937 brochure: https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/datin ... ks.125036/

I don't see any other stamp or mark (no "Williams") except "3/32" on the inner ring. Could it be a more modern "version"...but why the square nuts on the inside of the ring...??

Ring (side) is 46t and weighs about 560 g, left crank 300 g.

If by chance you know feel free to let me know!!

Thank you,

Kind regards,

 

[spark303]

Re:

The big N on the inside of the crank arms means it's made by Nicklin, who copied many Williams designs I believe. I don't know Nicklin model designations but your crank is clearly a copy of a Willian's C45. C34 and C45 crank arms were identical I think. The only difference was the chainring design, but they are interchangeable.

Early Williams chainsets used the small square nut on the inside and threaded chainring attachment. They later moved to a sleeved nut and bolt to facilitate double ring setups I believe.

 

[rick23]

Thanks. Yep seems like a Nicklin version of the C45, the former has a more rounded profile around bolt holes. I am still baffled as to why mine has squre nuts (quarter inch) when Williams moved to hex in the early 50's. Don't think Nicklin were making sets back then...??...