Mick Butler wrote Didn't one of Claud Butler's daughters marry Fred Pratt who had a shop on the Brighton Road near Reigate Surrey. Perhaps there is a connection. I will post this on the CR list as there are some really knowledgeable people on there who might know the answer.
Claude Butler's sister Joyce married Freddie Pratt who had a shop at Salfords on the old A23 London to Brighton road . Neither Claude Butler and family or Stan Butler of Allin's were in any way related to Geoffrey Butler of South Croydon .The former mentioned Butlers are part of our cycling history , Claude maker/salesman and Stan (no relation)apart from selling frames was a succesfull time trialist and clubman belonging to the imfamous Norwood Paragon C.C. Stan and their team won many national awards which were displayed at their annual prize giving from their road and track successes.He was great club man and belonged to a great club of the time.
I endorse Mick's comment regarding the Hetchin's frames and their absence from the TT scene maybe it was no one could afford them! I certainly could'nt! Returning to the name of Freddie Pratt he was well known for his design of along wheel based frame called the "Jack Knife" it was a product that never took on , well only by a very few ! There was lots of theories on its design and discussion by one and all but no real conclusions were ever reached I don't think. I thought it was terrible , I shudder at the thought of it even now !
Doug Smith
North Dorset
UK