Hi Nigel
Got some more info from the seller. It's clearly well worth £100, but I'm not sure it's sufficiently what I'm looking for that I'll spring the money.
See below
Sam I am sorry you didn't get the pics - I sent the pictures to whinge2me@yahoo.co.uk soon after your request. I have resent the e-mail. Please let me know if I am using the correct email address. Yes, I did see the bike before it was sprayed. It was in British Racing Green and had apparently been built specifically for the owner. The Ernie clements lettering on the down tube was in white and from memory are similar to the replacement decals I have. At the time I worked in a big specialist bike shop in Birmingham, and the owner of the shop (my boss) did a deal with owner on my behalf knowing that I wanted a race bike at reasonable money. The information within my ebay ad is the history of the bike as I understand it. I even made notes at the time which I have kept and referred to when I put in the ad. I didn't like the colour, and working in the trade got the option to get the frame resprayed in 'Electric Blue' inexpensively. A great idea at the age of 20, and one I regret now.
I am sure that the bike does not originate from the 1950's and must have been manufactured in the mid to late 1980's. The weight of the frame also gives an indication that the 531pro sticker that was on the original frame is authentic. The dropouts are stamped campagnolo and include the rear fine thread spring adjusters. As the original owner was from the midlands, I suspect that the frame was made whilst Ernie was at Falcon cycles which I believe was based in Coventry. It would be highly likley that the bike was hand made by one of the craftsmen from Falcon but as Falcon was a low end brand, they used Ernie's name on the frame with his approval. As I understand it, 531pro is a very rare tubeset. We sold lots of very nice 531 frames - Raleigh Ilkeston team frames, Gazelle etc. and most were 531c. Only very occasionally did we sell a 531Pro frame because they were a lot more money and very similar price to a 753 frame. Does any of this help?
_____
From: NIGEL LAND [mailto:ndland@btinternet.com] Sent: 22 July 2005 17:22 To: Sam Wise Subject: Re: Ebay Clements
Well, if the decals are the same it is definitely a Shropshire Clements
like
the one you lost. It is a lot of bike for £100, as you say and I doubt
it
will go higher.
Nigel