Mick asked:
>Have I missed a Claud Butler bi-laminated tandem? Is there such a thing
>in his catalogues? I have owned a Bill Philbrook made bi-laminated
>tandem and we all know that Bill worked for Claud's.
I cannot speak for all the catalogues, but Glasgow Museum of Transport has a Claud bi-lam tandem, but it is not on display to the public as yet. It was not possible for me to get in amongst the bikes without arranging an official visit, nor would I want anyone to get into trouble, so I would not ask for an unofficial one. I was not kitted up with torch and magnifying glasses anyway, however all the staff are most helpful and one, who has security clearance, is an ex Flying Scot and Mercian man.
The Claud Tandem is a SWB, the rear seat tube is very curved so the wheel gets right in under the stoker. I am told it is in original finish, though the kit wasn't. It has a clippie headset (shocked me) and the full bi-lam. I was unable to get any serials, because it was fairly dark and they could not be touched when the gentleman checked them for me.
However I was able to look in the door. Of the c 50 non-display bikes standing or hanging, there may be more under the tarpaulins, there were no Holdsworths or Hobbs that could be found. There was a George Elrick (Stirling), Saxon Twin Tube (pre war), Norman, Rudge, what looked like a Dursley Peddersen frame in primer, 3 Scots/Flying Scots hanging and one up the back re-enamelled and 3/4 in bubble wrap. etc I did ask for just the number of the bubble wrap one, but it was not possible.
I have passed various data to the curators, and hope that Bob, Bruce and/or myself will manage to get right in amongst them, should the Museum be kind enough. The number of the Claud tandem and Scots will be of particular interest.
You may be interested to know that CB's George Stratton died in 2003, however a transcript of an interview he did in 1996, at the age of 86, for an American mag, and two cassette tapes are in the archive of Warwick Uni library.
Your Holdsworth la Quelda was made very late in 1947 or very early in 1948. The H at the end tells you the main builder was Bill Hurlow.
Your Ernie Clements must be a rare beast, my first ever racer was an Ernie Clements. Ernie is still in Ledbury, but he has Parkinsons so has difficulty remembering. His son runs things.
Norman Kilgariff (Glasgow, Scotland)
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com