The problem is that the bilaminate frames, in the form of the Avant Coureur, were first introduced in April of'48. This frame's bilams match those for three models in the '49 catalogue. One of which is a path racer - the Olympic Path. Hilary Stone has taken the frame number and confirmed it to be a '49 Olympic Path - with obvious custom touches for the original owner.
This would seem to be supported by the following from Norman Kilgariff's site:
/_April 1948_ the *Avant Coureur * was advertised, the first of Claud's *bi-laminate* frames. The sleeves were improved for 1949 and used on the *Avant Coureur* and *Olympic Path* framesets. These "axe head" sleeves were later adopted on the Allrounder model, which was a simple lugless frame in 1949. The Avant Coureur gets another sleeve design later.
/At any rate, it's still a bit odd and not at all totally original. The GB bars, as Neil pointed out, are certainly of a later date. The front wheel has a 36h Airlite hub that, while possible, seems likely to be a later addition also since rims and hubs in '49 would more likely have been in 32/40 pairs.
Oops, I see the seller has corrected his listing to reference the '49 Olympic Path. Still think he's asking too much.
cjscheiner@pol.net wrote:
> With Bottom Bracket Number : 962444.
> I suggest you look at a 1944 Claud Butler catalog if the head badge is
> correct for that year. I don't think the yr/mo serial number system was
> still in effect in 1962, and this # isn't consistent with that format any
> way.
> C.J. Scheiner
> NYC, NY USA
>
--
Phil Sieg
Knoxville, Tennessee