Any even casual reader of this List..or observer of bide on Ebay, can fail to note the astonishing amount of interest in track frames..as opposed to "single-gear" or "fixies
Probably due to the fact that in England, in the 40/50/60 era, cycling was very much a working-class ..for that read "blue-collar" - sport. It was a fairly lucky cyclist who had two bikes, and if he had one would be a track-ended job, used for track and time-trialling and winter training, the other would be a road bike, complete with mudguard eyes that would function as massed-start frame, Youth Hostelling bike and the rest.
it's not surprising then that the UK produced thousands of these road/track and pure track bikes...many of which keep turning up on Ebay. Inevitably amost, a large proportion of them feature the ever-populat Nervex Pro lugset.
Hard on the heels of the Paramount, from Mansfield, brought to notice of List members this week, I have spotted that Hilary is selling a 51cms (is that a 20" in English parlance, Hilary?) Sheffield Langsett. In this case it is a true trackie ie no mudguard eyes.
Although the UK is a small country, the lightweigh cycle industry was very "regionalised" or even "localised" in that you tended, unless you were a poser, to buy your frame, made-to-measure, from the local builder. Sheffield Langsett was based on Langsett Road in that famous steel-making city, the road leading outwards towards the wonderful Derbyshire Dales not too far away.
The brand belonged to a builder called Stephen (or was that Stewart?), Smith, and was held in extremely high esteem. The Langsett legend recalls that all Langsetts were black enamelled, in order to show off to full effect the hallmarked-silver engraved headbadge. The building was of high quality as was the finish and, like many builders of that time Smith, recognising that inevitably some of his frames would end up receiving the habd-brush applied winter coat, decided to give his frames a dstinguishing mark..and like the many he chose the top-eyes to express his individuality. No amount of gunge and "Hammerite" can disguise a Langsett frame.
The brand is very highly sort after up here in the north of the UK.. and collectors will visit local and regional Jumbles just to search one out. Among all the Nervex Pro lugged frames that turn up at these jumbles.. it isn't difficult to pick out the Langsett. One VC-C member, born not far from Smith's shop has just started making sets of transfers available.
Being no relation of Hilary..but just keen to see this Langsett go to a loving hom, I 'm pleased to bring this sale to the CR members' notice
1950s 51cm Sheffield Langsett - Item No 7160886167's , with just over 3 days to go
Go on buy it.. otherwise I am going to have problems keeping my money in the bank
Norris Lockley ,, Settle Uk