Geoffrey Butler... How would you build it...
#51
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Glad it's not in my queue 'cause I'd want to put a bunch of stuff on it I couldn't afford. Really nice looking frameset!
Either full Campy NR, or Dura-Ace 7400.
Or, ya know, whatever greases your gears.
Either full Campy NR, or Dura-Ace 7400.
Or, ya know, whatever greases your gears.
#52
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Bikes: 1986 SBDU Raleigh, 1984 Raleigh Corsa, 1980 Allin Stan Butler Special, 2 x late 1960s Roberts, 1978 Philbook, 1964 Allin Belgique, 1959 Allin Stan Butler Special, 1951 Higgins Plus Parfait, 1951 Hobbs of Barbican, 1913 Centaur Featherweight.
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Firstly thank you.
I refer you to my post #44 on this thread, Geoffrey Butler Cycles did not build frames, they were always bought in from a number of sources: in the 1960s thru to the mid 1980s there were three principle sources: one, as mentioned in my post #44 was Cliff Shrubb, Cliff was a lone builder, he did not employ anyone else to build frames - his output was limited but he is highly regarded (I have a Geoffrey Butler frameset built by him).
The second of the two Hall of Famers referred in my post #44 was Roberts: Charles Roberts, the founder of Roberts cycles was a friend of the manager of GBC and Roberts did build frames for Geoffrey Butler although they would have been the high end ones, and again limited in number (I have a Roberts built Geoffrey Butler). Charles Roberts had two framebuilders, one was his younger son Geoff (a friend of mine) and a builder recruited from Holdsworth called Derek Bailey.
The third supplier - a factory - was Holdsworth. Holdsworth built trade frames as well as their own branded frames.
The Hall of Famers framesets are relatively easily identified*, but owners of GB branded framesets in the USA should not get too carried away with the idea that they have one built by either of the two Hall of Famers. Later Geoffrey Butler framesets were often supplied by the Falcon Cycles works in Brigg - they built Nigel Dean frames and supplied these to the trade.
*identified by the build quality and certain signature features and the number stamp style. Charles Roberts also built frames and his carry a very distinctive mark - I have a Roberts frameset built by him.
The red frameset is a Roberts built Geoffrey Butler (built by Geoff Roberts or Derek Bailey), and would have been what was referred to in the old days as a winter training frame. The white frameset was built by Cliff Shrubb - the drive side dropout has threaded holes for a Portacatena.
Both are 531db throughout.
I trust this clarifies a few things, and you may like to take a look at this link - https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...orial-day.html
John.
Last edited by hobbs1951; 09-07-19 at 01:57 AM.
#53
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So, IYHO, Who did build my frame. It looks a bit finer than either of the 2 you show, with finely filed longer point lugs and that shot in seat stay cluster.
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#54
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John.
#55
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Thank you. I appreciate a first hand report.
Someday I would love to bring it to the isles and ride from my grandfathers home town near Harlech, Wales and tour a bit around England.
A side trip to Croydon would be a great addition.
So from your information it is a Geoffrey Butler branded frame built by Charles Roberts bike building business possibly built by Derek Bailey who worked there.
Someday I would love to bring it to the isles and ride from my grandfathers home town near Harlech, Wales and tour a bit around England.
A side trip to Croydon would be a great addition.
So from your information it is a Geoffrey Butler branded frame built by Charles Roberts bike building business possibly built by Derek Bailey who worked there.
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#56
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Thank you. I appreciate a first hand report.
Someday I would love to bring it to the isles and ride from my grandfathers home town near Harlech, Wales and tour a bit around England.
A side trip to Croydon would be a great addition.
So from your information it is a Geoffrey Butler branded frame built by Charles Roberts bike building business possibly built by Derek Bailey who worked there.
Someday I would love to bring it to the isles and ride from my grandfathers home town near Harlech, Wales and tour a bit around England.
A side trip to Croydon would be a great addition.
So from your information it is a Geoffrey Butler branded frame built by Charles Roberts bike building business possibly built by Derek Bailey who worked there.
Come to England next summer for the Charles Benjamin Roberts Centenary Ride in pretty Boreham Street, East Sussex where his son Geoff still builds the finest frames.
John.
*was it branded a GB ?
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#57
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I got it as a bare painted frame from randyjawa whose son picked it up from some guy who said it was a Geoffrey Butler.
That is all I knew until I searched the threads Randy posted about this bike over the years and your first hand experience with both Butler's shop and Robert's shop.
That is all I knew until I searched the threads Randy posted about this bike over the years and your first hand experience with both Butler's shop and Robert's shop.
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#58
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So back to the original question, any other great ideas in how to build this frame set? I have a real nice Stronglight roller bearing headset...
Last edited by bwilli88; 09-09-19 at 07:15 AM.
#59
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And then I found this on Ebay
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#60
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I like where you're headed with this.
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#61
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That's actually 70277.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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#62
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#63
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#64
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#65
Newbie
I see others on here have given you some good history. There is also some on the Classic Lightweights web site and a suggested but expensive parts list.
Good luck.
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Wheels
I have the exact frame and I am the second owner, it is the same color and has the original "Geoffrey Butler" decals still on it. I still own this bike. As I remember it came with 27" wheels and I laced Mavic 700c rims to a set of Phil Wood hubs and had to use a set of Dura Ace long arm side pulls to get the pads low enough for the rims. Other wise I would have had to use a drop bolt mount.(Phill Wood and Dura Ace was fairly new back then) I put a Jubilee derailleur set on it, best move ever. Then I traded them for a Campy set of derailleurs, worst move.
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