Recently Wayne Jolly was asking for information on a 1940's Claud Butler Avant Coureur. There were two different types of Avant Coureur's.The easiest way to date and to distinguish these frames is by their frame number. The number is located on the steering column and under the bottom bracket shell. This is fine if you can see the number but if the number is completely obliterated by paint not quite so simple. So here are few tips on dating this model. The 1940's series of Avant Coureur's had a bottom bracket height of 10.5" with 27" wheels,but from 1950 onwards the bottom bracket height was increased to 11" for 27" wheels. The bi-laminated head was commonly known as the number three type and looked like a chunky "Fleur de Lis" but this head pattern changed in the Autumn of 1955. From this year they had new head which was simpler and more modern in appearance and was referred to as the No.5 style. The 1955 Avant Coureur was supplied in the following specification: Williams chainset 3 pin 3/32" ring and 6.75" cranks. Hubs British Hub Co.Solite double sided. Spokes 15/17G. rustless. Rims Dunlop steel special lightweights. Tyres 27" Dunlop Road Racing HP. gear Cyclo Benelux 4 speed. Chain Brampton. Pedals Brampton B.8 or Webb quill. Handlebars and stem 15/16" alloy Maes bends on 3.5" GB alloy spear point stem. Brakes alloy GB Coureur. This information was supplied today on an over 50's club run by my friend George who owned our local cycle shop for 58 years. Unfortunately now a pizza cafe! Hope this is of some help and interest. Funny thing this cycling a frame built in London in the 1940's journeys to Canada finishes up in the USA and you get an answer from a Brit sitting in a Huntigdonshire pub this lunchtime. Makes you think!
Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.
---------------------------------
Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo!Messenger