When I was 16 going on 17, Living in Brum (Birmingham) my only income was
from Dad, there where several frame builders local, that could have built what I
wanted, but I went to Claud Butler in London to get the job done, I had a
frame built to my specs and painted in the club Colours, paid for by my DAD of
course. Now to Brummies, Londoners where in a diferent country!!! Very High
Falutin!!! , Derby, Mercian country was up north!!! but in 1949 1950 not well
know at that time to me, Very expensive, (I now own two a 1950 and 2006) my
best mate had a Bates BAR then he got the TDF bug and got a Frejus with fancy
gears, the rear mech had an arm that hung down under the bottom bracket,
possibly a Cyclo of some sort. I still stuck with a single fixed, I use to laff
when my mates chain kept coming off, told him "SFG is the only way mate" no
worrys, I do remember,( hard for me these days), Dad had a friend who was a
manager for Dawes, wanted me to get one instead of the Claud, but Dawes and
Hercules, along with Sturmey Archer gears and Raleigh bikes, Not the thing a good
clubman would buy!! I Also remember that at one time welded frames became
the thing to have,NO lugs NO extra weight, I did have a builder in Small Heath
build me one, but I though it had a lot of whip, you could push the crank
sideways!!! so I folgged it to another mate, I often wonder where it is along
with my Claud, MY DAD TOSSED THEM IN THE BIN,along with my wood sprints and
tubs,and many gears parts etc, when I left for the USA in 1957!! I bet Hilary
got hold of them and flogged them on Ebay!!, TTFN, John Crump
OldwishIhadallthatjunknowBrit, Parker Co.USA. TTFN (Whats that??)