Holdsworth Frame Numbers
#51
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3 digit Holdsworth frame number
Doug
#52
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Tricky,
I agree looks like a sloppy 7 to me. From looking at a lot of these numbers 1 and 7 are often misread for each other. The 7 tends to have a bit of a curve, which this does. While the style of 1 is usually straight with a little deflection off to left at top.
The Italia was made in 1981 according to Kilgariff's catalog and perhaps you are right it carried on in 1982. Or... perhaps Dave's "prediction" graph is a tad off. The prediction is "circa" after all.
I have never seen a Claud Butler Italia. Would be really nice to see pics!
Doug
I agree looks like a sloppy 7 to me. From looking at a lot of these numbers 1 and 7 are often misread for each other. The 7 tends to have a bit of a curve, which this does. While the style of 1 is usually straight with a little deflection off to left at top.
The Italia was made in 1981 according to Kilgariff's catalog and perhaps you are right it carried on in 1982. Or... perhaps Dave's "prediction" graph is a tad off. The prediction is "circa" after all.
I have never seen a Claud Butler Italia. Would be really nice to see pics!
Doug
Claud Butler Italia serial. Pardon the dirt, it's a rider. And, do you all think that third digit is a 7? Regardless, the 03, per this thread, puts the frame solidly in '82, but I can't make that jive with the catalogs listed here: Claud Butler Maybe they were still selling Claud Butler branded racing frames while also putting out touring bike catalogs. I am not complaining. '82 is my birth year, so I feel even more attached to this frame now.
Edit: Reread the first post. If it's a 037, it's 82, but 031 would be 81. The cant of the number leads me to believe it's a sloppily stamped 7.
Edit: Reread the first post. If it's a 037, it's 82, but 031 would be 81. The cant of the number leads me to believe it's a sloppily stamped 7.
#53
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Tricky,
I agree looks like a sloppy 7 to me. From looking at a lot of these numbers 1 and 7 are often misread for each other. The 7 tends to have a bit of a curve, which this does. While the style of 1 is usually straight with a little deflection off to left at top.
The Italia was made in 1981 according to Kilgariff's catalog and perhaps you are right it carried on in 1982. Or... perhaps Dave's "prediction" graph is a tad off. The prediction is "circa" after all.
I have never seen a Claud Butler Italia. Would be really nice to see pics!
Doug
I agree looks like a sloppy 7 to me. From looking at a lot of these numbers 1 and 7 are often misread for each other. The 7 tends to have a bit of a curve, which this does. While the style of 1 is usually straight with a little deflection off to left at top.
The Italia was made in 1981 according to Kilgariff's catalog and perhaps you are right it carried on in 1982. Or... perhaps Dave's "prediction" graph is a tad off. The prediction is "circa" after all.
I have never seen a Claud Butler Italia. Would be really nice to see pics!
Doug
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Hi Doug, thanks for the reply. I have attached two photos but will get some more detailed ones as well. The forks are also clearly stamped 168.
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#56
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I'll let Doug confirm the model, but looks like a Mistral to me. If this is the only number on the BB then I would think it is an early 4 digit number from the 60's. Sometimes you find odd 3D numbers along side/as well as the actual frame number. Is it possible to confirm the presence of any other markings? Also that oiler on the bottom of the BB is a bit odd, could it be a CB frame/number painted up as a Holdsworth? Looks like it has run a front gear change too at some time.
A number this low would be from around 1962, but the mistral didn't start until 1964. However we have seen frames with numbers on that are too low for a particular model before which is leading us to believe we are seeing some early prototype or marketing frames being built well in advance of the model launch. A couple of years has been seen before.
There is a track frame described as a Mistral in this group, #1089 from 1964, but the seat stay is not wrap over so not sure exactly what that one is either. Think a bit more input is needed to fully ID this frame.
A number this low would be from around 1962, but the mistral didn't start until 1964. However we have seen frames with numbers on that are too low for a particular model before which is leading us to believe we are seeing some early prototype or marketing frames being built well in advance of the model launch. A couple of years has been seen before.
There is a track frame described as a Mistral in this group, #1089 from 1964, but the seat stay is not wrap over so not sure exactly what that one is either. Think a bit more input is needed to fully ID this frame.
#57
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I have tried adjusting this before and you end up with loads of 1981 frames, which also looks odd. So again i'll log it as 1982 for now, but a year either way is entirely possible.
#58
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"168"
Thanks for pics of "168".
If indeed an early 60's short number and a Mistral, or more correctly a Super Mistral with fully sloping fork crown, it would not fit with a Holsworthy Factory build as that feature didn't come out in catalogues and other factory examples until later half of 60's. It could fit with a Putney shop "special" build as they were using Cinelli style crowns in early 60's although if that is case than an integral seat post bolt feature or chunkier wrap over seat stay would be more definitive to place as a Shop build. Placement of oiler on bottom bracket seems to be fairly standard by 1960, so that doesn't help. Also not typical of a "rebadged" early 60's Holdsworthy/Claud Torino clone.
Another possibility is that this is an early 70's factory special build, when we are again seeing short numbers. Lack of braze ons as TT rear brake cable stops suggests 70ish. Down tube decal and paint scheme, IF original, on other hand does look a bit more typical of 60's altho not definitive. Notice there does not seem to be a metal head badge. Are there perhaps covered holes? If none this might suggest was an early 70's special build as Mistral's were certainly built for other shop branding.
Don't think we can be definitive as yet. Any idea if same number on fork steerer tube? More pics of areas mentioned in prior email would be helpful.
If indeed an early 60's short number and a Mistral, or more correctly a Super Mistral with fully sloping fork crown, it would not fit with a Holsworthy Factory build as that feature didn't come out in catalogues and other factory examples until later half of 60's. It could fit with a Putney shop "special" build as they were using Cinelli style crowns in early 60's although if that is case than an integral seat post bolt feature or chunkier wrap over seat stay would be more definitive to place as a Shop build. Placement of oiler on bottom bracket seems to be fairly standard by 1960, so that doesn't help. Also not typical of a "rebadged" early 60's Holdsworthy/Claud Torino clone.
Another possibility is that this is an early 70's factory special build, when we are again seeing short numbers. Lack of braze ons as TT rear brake cable stops suggests 70ish. Down tube decal and paint scheme, IF original, on other hand does look a bit more typical of 60's altho not definitive. Notice there does not seem to be a metal head badge. Are there perhaps covered holes? If none this might suggest was an early 70's special build as Mistral's were certainly built for other shop branding.
Don't think we can be definitive as yet. Any idea if same number on fork steerer tube? More pics of areas mentioned in prior email would be helpful.
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168 more photos
Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it. I wondered if it was an early Roy Thame. I can not see any head badge hole blemishes under the transfer.
#61
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"168"
So by features I would guess somewhere around '73. Wonder about seat stay measurement?
Hope this helps.
Doug
Last edited by allend; 05-15-17 at 03:46 PM.
#63
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Definitely has the appearance of a Super Mistral with Prugnat I lugs and fully sloping fork crown. Doesn't appear to have any features of a Putney shop build - must be a factory build. Straight rear brake bridge did not appear until '73ish. Might be helpful, if you have a set of calipers to measure upper seat stay diameter which measured 5/8 from onset until '67 when went to 9/16 until again in mid 70's went back to 5/8. Looks thinner to me. Metal badge didn't disappear from catalog until after '76 altho as before unusual 3 digit number might mean it was a special build for badging by another shop. Looks like repainted at sometime as the factory would not have placed a seat tube decal on head tube.
So by features I would guess somewhere around '73. Wonder about seat stay measurement?
Hope this helps.
Doug
So by features I would guess somewhere around '73. Wonder about seat stay measurement?
Hope this helps.
Doug
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168 rear stay width
Hi Doug,
Not having a pair of calipers I managed to use a piece of card. Closest measurement 15mm (if anything fractionally over).
Thanks
Robert
Not having a pair of calipers I managed to use a piece of card. Closest measurement 15mm (if anything fractionally over).
Thanks
Robert
#66
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Congrats, I collect Holdsworth frame numbers and haven't seen this before, where we have what looks like a 70s frame (and most probably a Super Mistral) but the frame number doesn't make any sense in terms of known Holdsworth sequencing
One other thought, which doesn't actually get any closer than Allend has already, but if you knew whether tubing was 531 butted you could at least say definitively it was before 1982. The 1971 clubman had lug work like that, but the sloping fork crown and wrap around seat stay suggests a Super Mistral. Don't think you're going to get any closer than Allend has already. Very interesting though and great to see.
One other thought, which doesn't actually get any closer than Allend has already, but if you knew whether tubing was 531 butted you could at least say definitively it was before 1982. The 1971 clubman had lug work like that, but the sloping fork crown and wrap around seat stay suggests a Super Mistral. Don't think you're going to get any closer than Allend has already. Very interesting though and great to see.
#67
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Just to add another data point, I have an Italia purchased at Putney around '75 or '76. I vaguely remember John West telling my dad it had been around the shop for a while.
74739
Dave
74739
Dave
#68
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Hi Dave,
Dave Scrimshaw and rest of us might be interested in seeing some pics including serial number on BB. Yes, I guess builds for the shop sometimes hung around for a while. Seems it would have been built for stock. Any chance it may have had a K after numbers signifying stock? Interesting to know where numbers are placed on BB.
Doug
Dave Scrimshaw and rest of us might be interested in seeing some pics including serial number on BB. Yes, I guess builds for the shop sometimes hung around for a while. Seems it would have been built for stock. Any chance it may have had a K after numbers signifying stock? Interesting to know where numbers are placed on BB.
Doug
#69
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Yes Interesting, this is the second high number starting 74..., both Itilia's. Could be significant. Clearly something else was going on along side the continuing use of 69... numbers.
#70
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I don't have a BB serial # picture, but will get one
Last edited by dwgwater; 08-14-17 at 10:15 AM.
#71
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#73
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I'd have been more diligent about polishing it up if I knew you were going to want close-ups
#75
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And now from the archives:
74739 purchased 21 mar 75. So it's a Strada, not an Italia
Also, the invoice for my first Mistral 36712 purchased Sept. 29 1972. I sold that one a decade or two ago. Kinda wish I still had it, but it'd be pretty small. Nice riding bike, steel cottered cranks and all
74739 purchased 21 mar 75. So it's a Strada, not an Italia
Also, the invoice for my first Mistral 36712 purchased Sept. 29 1972. I sold that one a decade or two ago. Kinda wish I still had it, but it'd be pretty small. Nice riding bike, steel cottered cranks and all
Last edited by dwgwater; 08-15-17 at 09:07 PM.