Hi, Tom & Fellow Listmates---
The headbadge on that Ryall is very close in design and layout to several other British "shop-branded" framesets from the period which I've come across.
But the badge also closely resembles a Gillot----
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
This point probably speaks only to the headbadge manufacturer/supplier and not the builder of the Ryall frame, of course, but it is interesting. Which leads me to a few questions---
1. Who were the big suppliers of shop-branded cycle frames back in the day? Holdsworth? Others?
2. Did these builders use their own serial numbers for those shop-branded frames, or use a special number/code for each individual shop to whom they suppled frames?
2. Also, who was the big badge maker who supplied the British cycle trade? And on how many marques was that Ryall/Gillot-styled badge used? Anybody have any examples to point to? I thought I'd seen them on a Youngs of Lewisham and others besides Gillot before, but I haven't yet found a photo.
Interesting. Very interesting....
Cheerio,
Peter Jourdain
Whitewater, Wisconsin US of A
> Dear List:
>
> Someday I'll stop scanning ebay frame listings
> when I've nothing better to do, and avoid
> temptation.
>
> Here's a nice looking (although pictures are
> fuzzy) Ken Ryall frame. Seller guesses a 50's
> frame, which seems reasonable given the lamp
> bracket, generator bracket (?) up the seat stays and
> double pump pegs.
>
> The archives tell us that Ken Ryall owned a London
> shop and was a reasonably prolific and respected
> builder. Mr. Ryall had some Ryall frames made by
> Stan Pike at one point. However a 50's frame would
> predate Stan's building career. BTW, Ken also was a
> team mech in the 67 TDF. There was also a P. Ryall
> who rode in the '61 TDF. Any relation? .
>
> Does anyone know some of the further history of
> this builder? Were all of his frames out sourced,
> or did he at one time build in house? When did the
> shop open? If he was out-sourcing his frames in the
> 50's who were the builders? Who, what when where?
> Any info appreciated.
>
>
>
http://ebay.com/
>
> or item # 200046079085
>
> Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
>
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