Hi all, I just received this posting regard Holland cycles from an ex-listee with the initials MB:
"Ages ago I posted a piece about Holland in the Old Kent Road. Their shop was just by Dunton Road, turning near to the Dunn Cow Pub and on the other side Albany Road and the equally famous Thomas A Beckett. Sure if I remember correctly it was a very dilapidated shop with nothing much in it and a bare light bulb, but very nice people well they would be in South London. This was circa 1960. My best mate Alan in the VCC pulled a beautiful Holland off Stevenage Council tip not so long ago. This was in its original enamel and transfers and with all its original kit. Wonderful bike. I also was given a lot of cycling stuff to sell for Autistic charities by a London Transport Development Engineer. He worked on the development of the famous Route Master bus. Amongst this stuff was a Holland Brothers Winter frame. The address on the transfers was Orpington Kent very close to Birdies. Jim the engineer had it built in the late 60's or early 70's it had plain Chater lugs and had the hex and canti bosses brazed on the forks so he could use it with a trike conversion in the Winter. This frame went to a another guy in the VCC from Leicester way who used to do quite a bit of dealing, he loved large frames and this one was at least 25". I am still in touch with Alan and Jim so can probably find out more. You know what its like with cycling mates you tend to keep in touch so if you need any more info I can contact them for you. I think the Old Kent Road and Orpington Hollands are connected and perhaps even with the great Charlie Holland. Funnily enough most of my working life has been spent in South London printing houses and there were loads of Holland's in the trade especially on the "Street". Finally I did a little research for a chap who was very interested in the Wolverhampton cycling trade you know Sunbeams, Wearwells and Vikings etc. But the only lightweight firms I unearthed in the City were Jack Hately and Up The League Stallards."
Over and out, Phil Easton, Cambria, California, USA