J A Holland - 1958

J.A Holland manufacture of Lighweight racing Bicycles, West Bromich, (The other West Brom builder Major Nicholls is also from West Brom). Research from the National Cycle Archives at Warwick University shows a W. Holland as Secretary of the CTC West Brom Section. This W A Holland says, three children born, one was John Arthur Holland who took over business at 106 Old Meeting street and produced and sold bicycles around Birmingham untill 1969. Branded as” JA Holland”and “The Star”

J A Holland was a member of the Earlswood RP and Solihull CC, he did race in the early 50’s. In 1953 a J Holland took first in the CoventryCC 37mile NCU Birmingham Junior Championships, this could have been a son of J A Holland?

Midland C&AC Club member John Bishop has two Hollands, that he purchased around the late 50s his track frame is 2583 one after mine he also has a road frame 2537. Below is a photograph of him racing his road frame 2537 in a Midland C&AC time trial.

I got my road frame from a CR member in the USA, it was black with yellow to red fade head and seat panels. John thinks that my frame was owned by one of the Hollands due to the CTC transfer on the seat tube. The seat tube has World Championship bands with Olympic rings over them. I had the frame refinished due to the poor condition with gold head and seat tube bands, it is quite stunning looking I think.

The NOS Campag Gran Sport that I have on the Holland is very interesting, It does not have the bolt to stop it from winding up, PLUS the NOS Hanger has the notch cut lower to allow more travel, you can see from the photo that it is winding more chain that the early G/S this allows you to run a wider range of teeth on the chainrings and rear cogs I have a 14-24 freewheel with 50-40 chainwheels.