Just for the record a few builders letter codes for Claud Butlers. Valid
until 1956-7. Stamped under rear of bottom bracket -usually.
Tom Brooks 'U'
Harry Healey 'H'
Martin Mahone 'M' (Mid 1930's)
Bill Gray used 'B2' known date decenber 1935 but later 'W' for William.
Les Ephgrave unknown
Stuart Purves unknown
Bill Philbrook unknown
There were several others. Can anyone fill in the gaps?
This information from my old friend David MacMeikin who was a good friend
of Bill and the late Jim 'Godfrey' Burrows. Godfrey was an assembler and was
kept on with Bill by the reciever in 1957 tasked to finish off the frames
left at the Manor road factory. For many years the 3 friends used to meet
for tea at a cafe in the Arndale centre in Wandsworth. In the late 1990's I
went along but Bill didnt arrive. I used to work at Camberwell College of
Art and would take a 'long lunch' to travel on bus and Tube to Colliers Wood
where Bill did frame repairs in a tin shed at the back of a shop called 'The
Boat Harbour' run by Keith Brock. During the holidays I used to cycle across
south London and take frames home over my shoulder just like Bill used to do
in the 1950's. I also once carried 3 pairs of wheels home from Sam ''The
Wheels'' Salmons' house and passing Herne Hill noticed the gate open so
cycled in did a lap of the track and off home. Now in the North of Scotland
I sometimes have a deep nostalgia for the few years I spent in London
cycling around bike hunting and meeting some of the few old characters that
were left such as Bill, Godfrey, Alec Bird and Eddy Mundy.
Mark Stevens nostalgic in Evanton Scotland.