Hi Mick,
As best as Mervyn Cook and I can figure, the frame was made in 1952, specifically for export. An option in the 1950 catalog (I don't have the '52 catalog, if it ever existed), offers the Blue Riband with "Continental" lugs as a less expensive option to the regular fancy-cut lugs. The fork blades and steerer tube (which has the same serial number, X2189) as the bottom bracket shell) have the Accles & Pollack stamp, and I don't think that any of the later sub-contracted frames (by Tonnard Brazing) used A&P tubing. So this is a bit of a mystery.
I also have another 1952 Hobbs (C2300, not an export model), a Streamweight that has the identical lug pattern as this BR. And another locally-owned (export) Blue Riband (X2193, only 4 digits higher than mine!) is equipped with the same lugs.
Perhaps they were knocking them out with the cheaper lugs during the last couple of years of their in-house frame building operation. Or I suppose it's possible that someone slapped a BR head badge on a Streamweight. But the brazing quality and fairly light weight of the frame (1980gm, 4.4lbs) makes me think it's the real thing, even if the plebeian version.
Thanks for taking the time to look and comment.
Regards, Dave
PS don't mean to be mysterious about the "export" designation. In case you haven't heard this from Mervyn, his theory is that the X prefix designates export instead of month of manufacture. I have located 7 BRs originally shipped to the US or Canada, all with an X. Mervyn purchased another one in Atlanta, Georgia and "repatriated" it. So far, all of the BRs I've come across on this continent that don't have an X serial number were brought over from England. Just a working theory, though.
Michael Francis Butler <michaelbutler@fastmail.fm> wrote: Dear David, Is that really a Hobbs Blue Riband? I always associate those rather distinctive beautifully cut lugs with this classic model of theirs and not normal bog standard Nervex style lugs which your frame clearly has. Did they Hobbs in their last throws long after they had packed up frame building buy some frames in like yours and badge them up as a Blue Ribands, or was this the last style of Blue Ribands which I have never seen before? I would say that Campag ends would be contemporary with your particular lug pattern. Very curious to know the correct answers. I am the proud owner of Hobbs Blue ribband tandem trike with the more usual blue riband ornate lugs. We ues this for tandems for the bhlind or for handicapped children Best wishes Mick.
--
Michael Francis Butler
michaelbutler@fastmail.fm