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1975 Claud Butler

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1975 Claud Butler

Old 11-25-22, 03:59 PM
  #1  
big chainring 
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1975 Claud Butler

I purchased this Claud Butler a few weeks ago... Frame, fork, headset. From the serial number I dated it a 1975. This time period the CB brand was made by Holdsworth. Reynolds 531main tubes. Nicely constructed frame. It was in pretty shabby condition when I got it. Paint chipped and faded. Old foil decals peeling and it was just generally a mess. I did a quicky paint job with Testors light brown. Ordered up some decals which are taking some time to arrive. Lettering will be black with gold outline.

I built it up with parts on hand. Splurged on a Zeus crankset via ebay. Derailleurs are Huret Svelto, Universal sidepull brakes. I put a nice wheelset, Mavic SSC rims with Schwalbe tires. Old style GB stem with Phillipe bars.

Out on the Green Bay trail today.



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Last edited by big chainring; 11-25-22 at 04:02 PM.
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Old 11-25-22, 04:19 PM
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congratulations on a fine build!

absence of fluting on spider arms of chainset mark it as either Gran Sport model or first generation Criterium

[1970 catalogue page]

breath of flute suggests a product somewhat later than that shown on catalogue page

headset appears to be the Thomas D. Cross & Sons Ltd. model J -



judging by rear brake centre it appears Holdsworthy designed frame with Weinmann centrepull brakes in mind

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Last edited by juvela; 11-25-22 at 04:46 PM. Reason: addition
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Old 11-25-22, 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by juvela
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judging by rear brake centre it appears Holdsworthy designed frame with Weinmann centrepull brakes in mind
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Yes Wenmanns would have been on it. I looked up examples of this model. Campy Valentino derailleurs, a basic low end TA? 3 arm cotterless crank, alloy clincher wheels. On par with a Raleigh Super Course.

My idea was to jazz it up a bit with the tubular wheels, nice crankset, and I do like the performance of the Svelto derailleur.
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Old 11-27-22, 08:12 AM
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Any info on when this sttyle GB stem was in production. First one I have seen like it. Used it on the Claud Butler for a little funk factor.

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Old 11-27-22, 09:31 AM
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the Svelto short arm has more capacity that it is given credit for

had a machine come through the shop with one which was paired with a gear block with a rather large looking large cog

thought "how can this work?!?!"

checked the cog and it was 30T

the chain would hop onto it and off of it without a problem


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stem -

have wondered as well regarding a date for this model

employment of this GB logo and the absence of the Hiduminium term are helpful date bracketing clues

seen it on a number of cycles posted online but never one in person

will look forward to reading if you receive an answer...


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Last edited by juvela; 11-27-22 at 11:00 AM. Reason: addition
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Old 11-27-22, 09:44 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by juvela
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the Svelto short arm has more capacity that it is given credit for

had a machine come through the shop with one which was paired with a gear block with a rather large looking large cog

thought "how can this work?!?!"

checked the cog and it was 30T

the chain would hop onto it and off of it without a problem.


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I'm finding the Svelto a nice changer. The idler wheels are toothless. Very quiet gear changing and tends to center itself on the cog. Changing to larger sprocket is just as easy as shifting to smaller cog. Could be the Sram chain helping too. Front derailleur also works well and I rarely have to adjust trim. The levers do have a lot of travel compared to Campy but got used to it quickly.
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Old 11-27-22, 10:02 AM
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this manufacturer catalogue page of 1966 rates the Svelto as being able to handle a 24T large cog -

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in looking at the photo of the cycle it appears Holdsworthy employed the Prugnat 62/s lug pattern and the Vagner DP+ fork crown

do the frame ends carry any marking? wonder if they may have built with a Cyclo pattern...


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Old 11-27-22, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by juvela
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do the frame ends carry any marking? wonder if they may have built with a Cyclo pattern...


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No markings I can see
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Old 11-27-22, 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by big chainring
Any info on when this sttyle GB stem was in production. First one I have seen like it. Used it on the Claud Butler for a little funk factor.

I can’t give you a date of production but I can tell you that Raleigh/Carlton used these GB stems from at least as far back as 1967 and up through about 1976. Raleigh used these on the Super Course and Carlton even put them on the Flyer for awhile. Falcon and Dawes used them in this era too but I doubt I could ever give you a perfectly accurate date on a Falcon. Dawes put them on the Galaxy, there’s one on my 74, and maybe some other models. I’ve always liked that stem and I think it looks great on your CB, it’s definitely period correct.

Last edited by Pcampeau; 11-27-22 at 10:53 AM.
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Old 11-27-22, 01:54 PM
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Sure would be nice to encounter a Claud Butler on the Green Bay Trail. I've always got the oldest bike by a few decades out there. Nice work on the quick paint job, by the way.
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Old 11-27-22, 02:09 PM
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Thanks for the excellent dropout image.

Checked me NERVEX file and it is not one of theirs.

So likely and indigenous Brit product from a suspect such as Haden, Brampton, Davis & the like...


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Old 11-27-22, 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by big chainring
and I do like the performance of the Svelto derailleur.
You can't go wrong with a Svelto. In my opinion, on par with Campy Record.
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Old 11-27-22, 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by juvela
-----

this manufacturer catalogue page of 1966 rates the Svelto as being able to handle a 24T large cog -

​​​​​​

---

in looking at the photo of the cycle it appears Holdsworthy employed the Prugnat 62/s lug pattern and the Vagner DP+ fork crown

do the frame ends carry any marking? wonder if they may have built with a Cyclo pattern...


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I have a Svelto on my Grubb that has the identical dropouts as on this C.B. and it takes a 28T low gear just fine.

Holdsworth went from Nervex to Prugnat in 1964 on its Grubb and C.B. lines (continued Nervex Professional for Holdswoth-branded bicycles).

Number would be on steerer tube and underside of bottom bracket.

Last edited by 1989Pre; 11-27-22 at 03:57 PM.
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Old 11-27-22, 05:40 PM
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Thank you!

Owned a '72 C.B. Torino model in BRG kittted w/Campag NR and Universal 61

Appeared it may have been the C.B. version of the Mistral but am certainly no Holdsworthy expert...


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Old 11-28-22, 07:03 PM
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Nice ride! I have found Huret mechs to be undervalued. Even the Alvit worked well. I would rather have Huret than any of the Delrin Simplex models!
But do show us the frame pump set up you have going on on the NDS sear stay!
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Old 11-28-22, 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by elcraft
Nice ride! I have found Huret mechs to be undervalued. Even the Alvit worked well. I would rather have Huret than any of the Delrin Simplex models!
But do show us the frame pump set up you have going on on the NDS sear stay!
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Wondered anent this as well.

Each time see this method of stowage wonder if it would be possible for pump to go into spokes when hitting a bump or pothole.

That might be excitin'...


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The bicycle's CPSC compliant QR skewers are about the only fittings which appear late for its date.


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Last edited by juvela; 11-29-22 at 07:26 AM. Reason: addition
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Old 12-04-22, 09:45 AM
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This is the pump set up. Wedged between quick release lever and seattube/stay cluster. Its in there solid.
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Old 12-04-22, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by big chainring
This is the pump set up. Wedged between quick release lever and seattube/stay cluster. Its in there solid.
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Thanks very much!

Is your orange Roma lass a Grand Sport Deluxe? Other model?


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Old 12-04-22, 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by juvela
-----

Thanks very much!

Is your orange Roma lass a Grand Sport Deluxe? Other model?


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Indeed
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