Re: [CR] Holdsworth Frame? Paul Bailey

(Example: Racing)

Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:58:21 +0000 (GMT)
From: "Norman Kilgariff" <nkilgariff@yahoo.com>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Holdsworth Frame? Paul Bailey


Hello Paul,

Nice pics of your frame, particularly of the frame number 023025 on both locations.  It is indeed a Holdsworth Professional, but it was made in the first half of 1980, not in 1982.

I can date this frame quite easily using the serial number.  This year is reinforced by the Campy 1010A rear dropouts.  In Bike Riders Aids 1981 (http://www.nkilgariff.com/  models, professional page at 1981), which will have gone to press c Feb 1981, the Pro now has Campy Super Record dropouts (titanium \u2013 no limit screws as it is a sod to drill titanium).  Your crown is Wagner not Prugnat, they switched late 1977 (IIRC).

The pics of the serial number and one of the rear Campy 1010 end is all that you really need to ID this as a 1980 Holdsworth Pro.  The other pics all reinforce though.

Derek\u2019s Pro may well have been bought in 1982, but that does not mean it was made in 1982.  These frames often sat in stock a while, they were not cheap.  I have never (yet) seen any convincing evidence that any Pros were made in 1982, current evidence suggests they were not.  Anyway, yours certainly was not.

I have no catalogue data on the 1980 Pro, but I have some pics (not great).  What I really like about them is the restrained use of chrome. The forks are not all chrome, only the front Campy dropouts get chromed there.  The rear dropouts do not get chromed entirely, only the faces of the rear dropouts get chrome. To me this is really classy.  In 1980 the Pro was available in different colours (not just white).  I will try to email a few pics to you.

While I cannot give the time to get involved in correspondence on paint or decal details, I hope to be able to chip in a little bit of data now and again when I can.

All the best,         norman kilgariff  (busy anorak)     Glasgow , Scotland