Stephens Special - 1947
Owned by: Bryan Clarke
| Frame |
Stephens ‘Special’, 23” seat tube, 23” top tube; Reynolds 531 DB tubing, pencil stays 41½” wheelbase, 74 deg/ 71 deg angles, frame number 1198 built by Stephen Eddie Mitchell in 1947 and sold as a frame to a Mr Titchner on 29th October. |
| Wheels |
26” x 1¼” Dunlop Light Alloy HP rims on Airlite Continental front and Sturmey Archer rear |
| Chainset | Williams C34 with 46-tooth Nicklin ring |
| Pedals | Chater Lea Sprinter with Sportsman adjustable toe clips |
| Gears | Sturmey Archer FM |
| Brakes | Burlite front and rear |
| Stem/Bars | Reynolds alloy TT bars on GB girder stem |
| Saddle | Lycett L’Avenir |
| Extra details | Ad Hoc Tourisme pump |
Eddie Mitchell started making cycles as E Stephens at 28 Newington Green Road, Islington in the 1920's and moved to Chase Side, Southgate, North London in 1938. He designed his own lugs (stamped E Stephens - see image below), reinforced fork crown, quick release mudguard eyes and detachable lamp bracket. His frames fell out of favour after WWII, the last one recorded being built in 1955. A full account written by Roger Bugg can be found in the V-CC Boneshaker No.169 Autumn 2005. I am grateful to Nigel Land the VCC marque enthusiast for supplying me with information about the frame and a set of original transfers.
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Down tube transfer