Simon Bird wrote .
I can't shed any light on the braze-ons. But I do have some more questions. The 3 braze ons on the seat tube side of the seat stays are strange, two on the drive side, not for mudguards as there are already eyes on the drop outs.
As you may remember Mark, I have a 1952 Gillott Connoisseur (which I am STILL restoring!-the above Gnutti/Magistroni set up is perhaps the final piece). Mine #522851 does not have the serial number braze on nor the headtube grease port and the windows in my lugs are perhaps slightly smaller although your black painted lugs may just appear slimmer (I've heard it's a slimming colour):-) Do you think the gear hanger has been modified by Gillotts or at a later date? My Connoisseur has the same Agrati forged ends but with an off-set Simplex hanger which is forged as part of th D/O, it also has a double roller on the drive side BB for a simplex Juy 53 but no braze-on for the mech itself. Are the forks original? Mine has the RJB fork crown (I have a pair of forks from a 30's Maclean with that same fork crown). And finally is the stem a Titan or the Gillott branded one that is very similar? and do you know it to be original equipment?
Simon, I am 99%certain that the frame is in its original but distressed
paint and chrome so the dropout brazeon for Cyclo is original too.. The
frame number on the headtube headplate matches the forks so the Fleur de Lis
crown is original but I agree is unusual with a Spear lugged frame, even
though it is the Connoisseur version.
The stem came off ebay and is a very good match for the Titan stems that
Gillott had stamped at some time in the 50's. This one is unmarked. The
patina of the chrome and bare steel goes very well with the frame and
headset.
I think it is a case of horses for course. Yours sounds 'sportier' than
mine. A fast Clubmans bike perhaps?. Mine has the feel of a Continental
tourer or Audax/Randonneur about it judging by the brazeon complement.
Neil Foddering had a very interesting suggestion for the rear pair of 12''
spaced pegs. The possible use being for a telescopic tent pole. I am not so
sure. My thoughts veer towards a battery tube. There is a Daniel Rebour
drawing of a French type in June 1950 Le Cycle with a conical base shown
fitting on brazed on pegs top and bottom. The top would be sprung loaded.
It looks to be made of aluminium. Made by ''Zoe'' it is fitted to a Rene
Herse at the Chanteloup (technical trials?) and described as ''Cette pile,
qui n'a rien d'atomique, permet un eclairage suffisant pour les grands
raides cyclo-sportif.''
If anybody has one for sale do let me know. If not for sale then a drawing
and photos so I can copy it. The bike is a work in progress. It needs
mudguards and lights. It also has Agrati dropouts front and rear with axle
space for Q/R's. I am building a pair of wheels on Gnutti Q/R hubs for it.
I rode it up Glenesk last year on the 'Gillotts in the Glen' run I organise
for the VCC. It rides very nicely.
Mark Stevens Evanton Scotland