[CR]John Crump's Old Claud Butler.

(Example: Production Builders:Tonard)

From: Mark Stevens <mark@lentran.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <MONKEYFOODxQfVCCcPR00001df9@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org>
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:21:01 -0000
reply-type=original
Subject: [CR]John Crump's Old Claud Butler.

Hello John, I happen to have bought a 22'' All -Rounder on Saturday. Frame 52 12 5883 . Yours is 52 12 5787. Mine is different from the 52 model, oval fork blades not round and has the guide tube under the bracket as shown in the '53 catalogue. So the year and month is correct. The second number I believe is the number of frames built that year. Mine has chrome ends and fork crown. I am surprised that yours does not have a chrome fork crown as that was standard. Unless it has been resprayed at some time. My head badge is natural aluminium with painted rings and details. The Cand B at the top have a raised edge for paint infil unlike yours which has solid letters.
>From this I reckon your bike may have been resprayed and fitted with a later type of badge. Mine was covered in horrid green paint with clumsy silver splodges over the transfers. I had a go with a bit of paint stripper and found the original paint and transfers underneath. Flamboyant emerald green with gold luglining. I am still spending my evenings carefully unearthing the original finish. It is badly scratched but I will leave it as it is.
    You seem to have most of the original bits on yours. Does yours have the seat clamp ring or is the seat clamp a bolt as part of the lug? I would leave it as it is if the transfers are reasonable. Get rid of the plastic bar tape and use some faded cloth tape if you have any.
    I also own 52 7 3025 which is a July 1952 Avant Coureur with the long bi lams. These were on the Olympic Sprint in 1953.
   You may find a letter stamped on the bracket (tucked up neat the chain stays) and steerer. This the code for the builder. My Allrounder has a ''U'' but I dont know who that is.
    All the best in cycling, Mark Stevens Evanton Scotland.