Introduction
We are interested in collecting information on UK builders of classic frames, loosely defined as frames which could be built to a customer's individual specification. If you are a Marque Enthusiast for a British classic bike builder and that marque is not yet included please let us have your contributions.
Please note that the webmaster is not able to give advice on restoring bikes, provide any form of valuation, or to identify 'finds'. If you are unable to find the information that you are looking for on the web site please try some of the other sites listed under Links.
Recent additions:
| 31 August | Catalogues - a 1960 Gillott catalogue (Edwardes brothers) from Tom Plowman |
| 25 August | Classic Builders - continuing the tandem theme, Building classic tandems by Peter Underwood |
| 15 August | Reminiscences - Geoff Waters: Tandem track racing in Durban |
| 8 August | Classic Components - an addition to end of the page on Osgear |
| 4 August | Classic Builders - George Staples adds an interesting rider to the Hobbs story |
| 3 August | Readers' Bikes - 1968 Mercian Professional track machine owned by Martyn Parkes' |
| 2 August | Readers' Bikes - John Crump's award winning 1950 Mercian Super Bi-laminated machine |
| 30 July | Catalogues - a 1966 Claud Butler catalogue sent in by David Shaw |
| 29 July | Restoration - a Conloy/Simplex hybrid gear modified by Robin Walker |
| 28 July | Readers' Bikes - Alexander Von Tutschek's 1949 Holdsworth La Quelda Reminiscences - Geoff Waters on Viking Cycles Ltd - cycling in South Africa |
| 27 July | We are back from a cycling holiday in Bavaria and have several items to upload over the next few days, first under Components - Apex pumps and mudguards from Ted Hayward |
| 7July | Classic Builders - A piece on Brazing and welding frames by Norris Lockley |
| 20 June | Components - Nolicattaneo pedals, a brief introduction - now with extra information and images Classic Builders - Details of the 1968 Olympus added to the JRJ/Bob Jackson page |
| 17 June | Catalogues - Clive Holmes-Dowkes has provided this 1960 Holdsworth catalogue |
| 15 June | Classic Components - we have upgraded the Badges
collection as the numbers were creating a long upload time. They are
now divided into four pages and have a section on down tube
logos. Catalogues - Pat Hanlon catalogue from 1967 |
| 9 June | Readers' Bikes - 1952 Geoff Clark from Derek Browne's collection of northern-built machines |
| 7 June | Readers' Bikes - A pre-war Hayson c.1936 from Alexander von Tutschek |
| 3 June | Reminiscences - Geoff Waters submits an important piece entitled Competitive Cycling in Apartheid's Shadow |
| 30 May | Reminiscences - From the States, John Crump on 'My years with the Midland Cycling & Athletics Club' |
| 29 May | Classic Builders - details added of a triplet built by Jack Taylor and found in Australia |
| 25 May | Readers' Bikes - A 1971 Alex Iles supplied new to the owner by Bill Hurlow |
| 19 May | Readers' Bikes - the webmaster's 1959 Hetchins Magnum Bonum also additional material to the Alf Engers page concerning his 1978 record-breaking machines |
| 17 May | Classic Builders - Andrew Eatch has submitted valuable additional images and information on Walter Greaves |
| 11 May | Classic Builders - information on frame numbering added to the Fred Dean page |
| 9 May | Readers' Bikes - Paul Kimberley's 1969 Ellis Briggs |
| 8 May | Classic Builders - additional material and images to Jack Sibbit in Builders |
| 7 May | Readers' Bikes - John Gray's 1953 Condor track machine plus additional information and images on Don Louis Page |
| 6 May | Components - Accessories for the racing man produced by Pennine Cycle Accessory Co. |
| 5 May | Readers' Bikes - Peter Lowry's 1949 Hobbs Super Course |
| 30 April | Readers' Bikes - Bob Johnson's 1976 Pogliaghi |
| 29 April | Readers' Bikes - A fitting entry, a 1971 Bill Hurlow 'Italia' |
| 26 April | Components - Simplex Retrofriction levers by Peter Underwood (Now with additional text and image) |
| 23 April | Readers Bikes - Paul Page's 1956 Claud Butler Saxon twin tube Readers Bikes - Bryan Clarke's 1947 Spécial C.N.C. |
| 20 April | Readers Bikes - Derek Athey's 1960 Ephgrave No. 1 Super Readers' Bikes - David Rapley's 1954 Bianchi 'Tour de France' |
| 15 April | Readers' Bikes - Gary Higgitt's 1972 Colnago Super Readers' Bikes - Bob Drake's 1961 Ephgrave No. 1 Super track Classic Builders - A short piece on Don Louis with a request for more information |
| 14 April | Components - Nigel Scott has sent details of the Nylfor headset plus some snippets for Odds and Sods |
| 12 April | Classic Riders - a piece by Duncan Hammon on Graham Jones who started racing in the early 70's and went on to ride in five Tour de Fance races |
| 8 April | Components - a rare pair of Cinelli M71 pedals from Nigel Scott |
| 7 April | After a short break for Easter we have some really interesting contributions to set the ball rolling: Readers' Bikes - From Mario Romeo a rare 1938 Italian Romeo with good details of the Vittoria Margherita gear plus instructions for its use.
Readers' Bikes - From Neil Foddering a 1950's W P Newton with some interesting Simplex touring gears Components - 'Badges' from Italy, Fabio Pancaldi has sent some of his collection of Italian badges Classic Builders - Duncan Hamman has related his story of working at Jack Sibbit Cycles in the early post-war period |
| 30 March | Components - Simplex double chainrings by Nigel Scott |
| 29 March | Components - a piece on shoeplates by Peter Underwood, now with extra images from Derek Browne |
| 28 March | Components - Unica saddle by Nigel Scott |
| 26 March | Readers' Bikes - 1958 Pennine owned by Paul Gittins |
| 23 March | Readers' Bikes - Huw Melliar-Smith's 1951 Claud Butler Olympic Sprint |
| 19 March | Catalogues - additions to pages including Mercian c.1950's |
| 14 March | Components - Campagnolo bar-end levers are now listed in Components as well as Restoration following some additional information |
| 12 March | Components - details of the Hobbs of Barbican Lytaloy components added Components - several more badges added to Badges |
| 8 March | Catalogues - We have created a new section featuring good quality lightweight catalogues, we will be adding others from time to time. |
| 6 March | Classic Components - CLB/Alp brakes by Steve Griffith |
| 1 March | Classic Riders - Alf Engers 'The King'
by Peter Underwood Classic Components - Super Champion Gears |
| 27 February | Classic Builders - Young's Cycles of Lewisham (featuring Grandini, Meridian and Metro) by Bryan Clarke |
| 25 February | Readers' Bikes -
from Australia, Mario Romeo's 1967
Legnano Roma Olymiade Reminiscences - Brian Ward on the Metro Cycle Racing Club Club in the 50's - more to follow soon |
| 23 February | Readers' Bikes - Joe Warburton's 1971 Woodrup |
| 22 February | Readers' Bikes - from Australia, David Rapley's 1933 Ganna (Cambio Vittoria) |
| 19 February | Two entries
for H M Dickinson of Liverpool: Classic Builders - H M Dickinson by Jim Leach Readers Bikes - Jon Derricott's 1951 H M Dickinson |
| 18 February | Readers' Bikes - 1949 Hobbs Blue Riband Record owned by Riki Puttock |
| 15 February | Classic Builders - additional information and images on the Frank Lipscombe page from his daughter Pam. |
| 11 February | Classic Builders - Jim Ryan adds his story to the Dave Davey page |
| 7 February | Readers' Bikes - an all original 1949 Hobbs Raceweight owned by Ed Wilding |
| 3 February | Classic Builders - Percy Barnard and Son by Alan Barnard |
| 30 January | Readers' Bikes -Robin Walker's 1947 Dayton Classique ex-works team bike - now with additional images relating to 1947 Brighton to Glasgow Race |
| 29 January | Readers' Bikes - Gary Higgitt's 1956 Hetchins Magnum Bonum with unusual features and original invoice |
| 19 January | Readers' Bikes -
Neil McCormick's 1948
Flying Gate Components - some more head badges added |
| 18 January | Reminiscences - A fascinating piece on the lightweight scene in Durban, South Africa in the 1950's and 60's by Geoff Waters |
| 14 January | Classic Builders - Bill Gameson, the Birmingham builder |
| 12 January | Classic Builders - Querée Brothers by Laurie Weeks |
| 10 January | Reminiscences - Recollections of the Querée Brothers and assorted bikes from the Birmingham area by Laurie Weeks |
| 8 January | Components - Rod front changers by Mark Stevens |
| 4 January | Readers' Bikes - Another Bianchi Paris/Roubaix, this one owned by Gary Higgitt |
| 3
January 2010 |
Readers' Bikes - Jonathan Wright's early 50's Hilton Wrigley International built for his grandfather |
| 26 December | Components - 'Clangers' -rod front changers by Derek Browne |
| 18 December | Classic Builders - Duke's 20th Century Cycles by Christine Watts |
| 16 December | Classic Builders - A piece on Alan Shorter as a builder and a mentor, with amongst others Alf Engers, hopefully we will make three individual pages of this when more information is forthcoming on Alf and Shorter Rochford |
| 15 December | Readers' Bikes - Duke's 20th Century Cycles
owned by Bob Drake Classic Builders - The Upton some new images added |
| 11 December | Readers' Bikes - a rare Jack Sibbit track bike owned by Gary Higgitt |
| 7 December | Components - Simplex Demultiplicator added to Odds and Sods and Simplex vertical rear ends to Frame Building Components |
| 6 December | Reminiscences - Evolution of Classic Lightweights Through the Years by Peter Underwood |
Where it is indicated on the site that you can view larger versions of images click on the originals. The larger images may be constrained by page dimensions but a further click will bring up the full size.
If you have any contribution - text or images - to make, please forward to Peter Underwood, email:-
peter.underwood(at)tesco.net.
If e-mailing substitute an @ sign for '(at)'