Re: [CR] Post War Brits Euro Parts

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

In-Reply-To: <485611.54323.qm@web54407.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
References: <485611.54323.qm@web54407.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 9 May 2010 23:48:32 +0100
From: "Derek Athey" <devondirect@googlemail.com>
To: "P.C. Kohler" <kohl57@yahoo.com>
Cc: Rendezvous Classic <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] Post War Brits Euro Parts


Hello Peter

Since I've been away from my PC over the weekend, I've come in late on this discussion regarding Brit Kit!

I am a 'baby boomer', born immediately post war, so I came into cycling as a teenager in the late 50's. As has been stated already by other ex-pats or older riders who cycled in Britain during and after the WWII, there were huge shortages of steel post war as it was 'export or die' for 10-15 years to pay off our national debt and the US on the 'lend-lease' arrangement (on an interesting note Britain only paid off it's *last payment* to the US on that arrangement in 2008!!) WE certainly paid our way for the WWII conflict...eventually! You must also be aware that it was *illegal* to chrome anything not used in the war effort from 1939. Virtually all unecessary steel equipment was smelted for munitions, including steel dies used for the manufacture of Reynolds tubing other than standard tubing used in plane manufacture. So,dies for taper tubes used by Selbach, Granby etc was scrapped. As was Bates Cantiflex dies etc. All Gillott taper Tubed frames were built from pre-war tubing stock. Harry Carrington, Gillott's manager used to phone around all the main larger frame manufactureres to buy any pre-war tubing stocks he could get his hands on, to build any frames ordered from 1946, as it was years before Reynolds could supply tubing. ALL steel was rationed and in short supply until the early fifties. This situation would have been the same for most small bespojes builders until the mid-50's. Whereas there were NO shortages of aluminium. Hence G Burgess Esq (GB) was able to start manufacture of British built alloy cycle components from 1946 in a big way.

This was the situation for Land Rover, That's why the head of Rover Cars started designed the 4x4 all purpose Jeep look-a-like as it was alloy bodied on a steel chassis, as alloy was plentiful. Now there was a success stroy of British built products!

Anyhow, there were huge disparities in pricing between UK and Euro parts until well into the 1960's, so for the likes of everyday Club riders British parts were still the norm, especially of complete machines. From my experience of CTC (touring) riders, these guys were totally loyal to British parts and many were still using pre-war components (not gears, except for SA of course). By this time Huret and Campag were becoming more prevalent. Whereas BLRC (Leaguers) and Club TT riders were already well into 'Continental' equipement

Another CR list member asked when did the all-British assembled cycle come to an end. From my experience and knowledge, for personally built frame up cycles it was around 1958. By the early 60's you could still buy ready assembled complete cycles with *some* British items, but most had switched to Euro and early Japanese parts by then (Sugino/ SR/Sun Tour etc (note the then spelling of Sun Tour!)

On the subject of your proposed component list for the Raleigh Record frame. It would be more or less, appropriate as you have it except, in my opinion, if one was buying the machine in 1962 and could afford a Williams AB77 alloy chainset etc., There would be no way you would put on a crappy gears like the Benelux P2. It would *have *to be a Benelux Super 60. The AB77 was designed with the Super 60 in mind. Also the GB 66 Centre-pulls would have been a no-no it must be the Universal centre-pulls by this time. Finally, the Brampton B8 pedals were old hat by 62. It would have been the Campag Gran Sport steel caged/alloy barrelled version with the early strap loop on the cage. Again these were the accepted mix of Brit/Euro parts at this time.

Kind regards Derek Athey Honiton, Devon UK

On Sun, May 9, 2010 at 3:42 AM, P.C. Kohler <kohl57@yahoo.com> wrote:
> What would be a realistic cut-off year for a reasonably top-end,
> all-British component fit?
>
> One of the last remaining "wants" on my list is a c. 1962 Raleigh Record
> T.O.B. (Tour of Britain) frameset. This came with a choice of Campagnolo or
> Benelux fork ends so choosing the later, I come up with the following
> contemporary all-British component list would consist of:
>
> Hubs: Airlite small-flange alloy quick release hubs
> Rims: was there a British make sew-up rim at this time? Birmulux? But I
> think this was 1970s?
> Freewheel: Cyclo five-speed
> Handlebar/Stem: GB Ventoux 'bars and GB forged alloy stem
> Brakes: GB Courer 66 centre pull
> Gears: Cyclo-Benelux P2 5-speed
> Chainset: Williams AB77 cotterless alloy
> Pedals: Brampton B8
> Headset: Brampton
> Bottom bracket: Brampton with Williams splined spindle
> Seat pin: Reynolds domed alloy
> Saddle: Brooks swallow
> Mudguards: Britannia Sprint Veloce
> Pump: Britannia Sprint Veloce
>
> Possibly not all "pro" quality but as British as you could get I think and
> probably as late as you could reasonably so kit out a machine.
>
> Peter Kohler
> Washington DC USA