Hello friends, I'm unaffiliated with the seller, and the frame is too large for me, but want to call attention to this auction for a couple of reasons--the least of which is not the fact that it may be a nice item for someone here, interested in tall frames from the fifties.
The link is:
http://ebay.com/
We've discussed how British frame sizes tend toward the shorter the farther back one goes in time. Here's a frame from the fifties that is 25" according to the seller.
I suppose I should take that date of '58 with a grain of salt--the fifties rather lasted into the early sixties in many quarters, and the date given by the seller seems to be speculative...still, this frame does have typical '50s features.
I wonder if anyone has any information about this brand? Was Churchill (of Croyden) in fact the builder? Was this a "jobber"-type item, and if so, which contractor is responsible for it? There was another Churchill on eBay a couple of months ago, and I wasn't able to turn up information on the brand at the time via internet search. Perhaps some of our UK partners have memories of this marque, or references in periodicals? I don't see anything indicating what sort of tubing this frameset is made of, but it doesn't exactly look "budget". I note the curving brake bridge, wrapover stays, attractive lugs, and a rather luxe go at graphics (nice transfers), so it looks 'decent', at the least. Having seen two of these now, I'm surprised at the dearth of information around (vis-a-vis Google). Churchill fans, where are you? I would be curious to hear from the purchaser of that last one on eBay earlier this year, if it happens to have been a listmember. I recall that this earlier auction was for a pale blue (turning greenish) frameset, sized at about 58 cm. I might have gone for it, but I had already arranged to purchase an Ephgrave frameset from a listmember (to whom I am very grateful)--and one does need to pace oneself. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who may have been able to inspect a Churchill bike at close range. I wouldn't expect it to be on the top tier, but do they rate at all?
There are fewer than 24 hours left on this auction, and the price stands at the opening bid of 4.99 sterling--seems awfully cheap. Tall persons, where are you? Have a look. It may have escaped notice in part because it is listed as "Frame Set"--two words. Thanks, everyone, for your indulgence (in reading through my "prose").
Thomas Ward
(about to get outdoors in) Manhattan