I fdorgot to add the link to the Holdsworth.
http://smg.photobucket.com/
Neil Foddering
Weymouth, Dorset, England
> From: kohl57@starpower.net
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: RE: [CR]1938 B.S.A Opperman Gold Special Model 985 T
> Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:26:03 -0500
>
> Actually not so amazing at all. I can readily recall at least four or fi
> ve
> other high quality British machines of this precise year in this conditio
n
> ,
> right down to all of the receipts, tools etc. on eBay over the past say
> three years or so.
>
> Why? 1937-38 seems to be the first year British complete machines were
> imported into the USA and certainly when the first Raleighs were. All vi
> a
> New England distributers. Not a great time to import what were
> breathtakingly expensive bikes with the second Depression just setting in
.
>
> And when cycling in the USA was well, the perserve of boys delivering
> newspapers and tweedy weirdos, the later being Raleigh's main market then
> methinks! So maybe these bikes were bought as curiousities and just tucke
d
>
> away in the cellar. That explains both the condition, the fact little if
>
> anything was altered or changed and all of the bits and receipts, too, we
r
> e
> saved. You'd never ever find British bikes of this era in this condition
> in
> the UK where they were ridden to death.
>
> But an exceptional example of the classic pre-war British club racer..
> .at a
> very fair price indeed. If you don't think so, try sourcing the bits for
>
> this at the prevailing sterling/dollar exchange and find out!
>
> Now.. will the new owner actually dare the ride the thing?!
>
> Peter Kohler
> Washington DC USA
>
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