W B Hurlow - 1962

This was one of Bill Hurlow’s personal time-trial cycles, and the only ornate-lugged frame he owned at the time of his death at Canterbury in 2010.
I was able to purchase it earlier this year from his son, Colin Hurlow, who lives in the USA. Colin provided me with a notarized letter of provenance which reads, in part:

Bicycle frame 233 was made by my father in the early 1960s at Herne Bay, Kent. His initials “W.B.H.” are cut into the lugs. About twelve of these frames with the fancy initials lugs were made. Frame 233 was the one my father kept for himself.

As the frame became quite old, the original finish was restored by an expert during the time my father owned it. My father planned to build the frame up again for riding, but age and illness didn’t allow.

I acquired frame 233 from my father’s property when he passed away in February 2010.

I’ve spoken to a few of WBH’s old friends and riding companions and they told me he kept this particular frame because he believed “it was the best one he ever built.” It has been dated to 1962. The finish is white (I understand this was common on time trial frames), with the ornate work gil