Thanks to everyone, particularly Hilary, for their interest in this frame and their excellent information. If I get it, I'll do some pictures for Dale to perhaps kick off an Ernie Clement section on the British Isles page.
Bruce Dundee Scotland
Hilary wrote to the list:
I am sorry to correct our list master but Ernie Clements did at one stage in
the late 40s/early 50s have his own business - Ernie Clement Cycles which
was based at Chapel Steet, Dawley, Shropshire - this is almost West Midlands
and fairly close to Wolverhampton. I have three items from Ernie Clements
Cycles - a gear chart with a list of models on the reverse side - two are
welded (fillet brazed), the Wrekin and the Special Course. The second item
is a price list which is dated September 1948 with just the Wrekin and Super
Course models welded. The third item is a catalogue which must date from
1950 or a little later. The Special Course is available at this time in
lugged form as well and the Clees model is available in both lugged and
welded versions, the Wrekin is also just available in welded form. Featured
is his own design of fork end incorporating a hanger for Simplex or Cyclo
Benelux gears. Over the years I have seen several Clements frames with these
ends which are quite distinctive with two concave shaped faces to the rear
of the dropout. I think they were supplied to few other makers too - but
nothing like in the quantity that Percy Stallard supplied his designs of
end.
However what I find most fascinating is the fact that he has copied
Percy Stallard's gear chart to even being printed on yellow card just the
same and the use of very similar model names for his cycles. The Clements
brothers were not known as the West Midlands cycle industry mafia without
good reason! Ernie I think still runs Cycles Clement in Ledbury who import
Simoncini frames and Frank runs Sirius Cycles (the less said the better
about Sirius - a sponsored rider of theirs had the front forks fail whilst
out training!).