sherlylock
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I've had a desire for a while to get hold of a "proper" Claud Butler, i.e. built before '57, pre-Holdworth ownership. Probably inspired after seeing some of Peachy's awesome restoration work on this fine forum.....
Anyways - I'd missed out on a couple this year on FB marketplace and eBay......until one popped up as part of a ad of scrap/tired bikes. The pic was really bad quality but I could just about make out the CB headbadge and decorative lugs of some sort under some thick paint. The saddle had to be worth what I agreed to pay for it so I arranged to collect.
Upon getting it home it was clear to see it was indeed a CB.....and investigation of the serial number confirmed a 1954 model. And the best part......it also has bi-laminated lugs.......deluxe long spearpoints. According to the '54 catalogue these were fitted to the Olympic Sprint track bike.....I have CB stamped non-track dropouts, but I have found reference to these lugs being fitted to the Avant Coureur from previous years......and I've found online evidence of an Avant Courier Special being fitted with those lugs. Customer request maybe. Anyways, happy to be proven wrong and happy for any more advice on what to look for to nail down a model.
Pics....
54 Catalogue entry for Avant Coureur Special courtesy of http://www.nkilgariff.com
It's got a nasty dent on the seat-tube and the steerer tube looks to have been repaired at some point......the serial number stamped into it matches the frame but it's been welded/dressed down near the fork crown......doesn't look very factory-finish and should probably be looked at!
Colourwise - it looks to have originally been a vivid green colour, with a yellow undercoat!? It's been overpainted a couple of times and with careful sanding of the thick blue (hammerite?) paint it's evident that the original paint was heavily scuffed up with sandpaper, presumably to provide a key for the next coat. I was hoping to find evidence of frame decals but alas none so far. There is evidence of chrome plating on fork crown and rear drop outs......be interesting to see what lies under the layers of paint when I get it stripped. I guess removing the headbadge should show the original colour in unfaded undamaged glory?
It's currently a singlespeed with a British Hubs Airlite large flange rear hub and a Campag front hub. Weinmann brake caliper/lever up front. Alloy rims - no idea on make as yet.
Williams 1000 crankset, Bayliss Wiley bottom bracket and Brampton Alatet headset. All been stripped flushed and re-greased and in very serviceable condition under the grime.
Not 100% sure on direction with this yet. Going to stick with single speed as I don't have one in the collection but it'll def. be a period build. A large flange Airlite hub for the front wheel is on the want list for sure!
As for colour schemes........need to have a think! Chrome dropouts def. need to feature.
Anyways - I'd missed out on a couple this year on FB marketplace and eBay......until one popped up as part of a ad of scrap/tired bikes. The pic was really bad quality but I could just about make out the CB headbadge and decorative lugs of some sort under some thick paint. The saddle had to be worth what I agreed to pay for it so I arranged to collect.
Upon getting it home it was clear to see it was indeed a CB.....and investigation of the serial number confirmed a 1954 model. And the best part......it also has bi-laminated lugs.......deluxe long spearpoints. According to the '54 catalogue these were fitted to the Olympic Sprint track bike.....I have CB stamped non-track dropouts, but I have found reference to these lugs being fitted to the Avant Coureur from previous years......and I've found online evidence of an Avant Courier Special being fitted with those lugs. Customer request maybe. Anyways, happy to be proven wrong and happy for any more advice on what to look for to nail down a model.
Pics....
54 Catalogue entry for Avant Coureur Special courtesy of http://www.nkilgariff.com
It's got a nasty dent on the seat-tube and the steerer tube looks to have been repaired at some point......the serial number stamped into it matches the frame but it's been welded/dressed down near the fork crown......doesn't look very factory-finish and should probably be looked at!
Colourwise - it looks to have originally been a vivid green colour, with a yellow undercoat!? It's been overpainted a couple of times and with careful sanding of the thick blue (hammerite?) paint it's evident that the original paint was heavily scuffed up with sandpaper, presumably to provide a key for the next coat. I was hoping to find evidence of frame decals but alas none so far. There is evidence of chrome plating on fork crown and rear drop outs......be interesting to see what lies under the layers of paint when I get it stripped. I guess removing the headbadge should show the original colour in unfaded undamaged glory?
It's currently a singlespeed with a British Hubs Airlite large flange rear hub and a Campag front hub. Weinmann brake caliper/lever up front. Alloy rims - no idea on make as yet.
Williams 1000 crankset, Bayliss Wiley bottom bracket and Brampton Alatet headset. All been stripped flushed and re-greased and in very serviceable condition under the grime.
Not 100% sure on direction with this yet. Going to stick with single speed as I don't have one in the collection but it'll def. be a period build. A large flange Airlite hub for the front wheel is on the want list for sure!
As for colour schemes........need to have a think! Chrome dropouts def. need to feature.