Introduction
We are interested in collecting information on UK builders of classic frames, loosely defined as frames which could be built to a customer's individual specification. If you are a Marque Enthusiast for a British classic bike builder and that marque is not yet included please let us have your contributions.
Please note that the webmaster is not able to give advice on restoring bikes, provide any form of valuation, or to identify 'finds'. If you are unable to find the information that you are looking for on the web site please try some of the other sites listed under Links.
Recent additions:
| 12 March | Components - details of the Hobbs of Barbican Lytaloy components added Components - several more badges added to Badges |
| 8 March | Catalogues - We have created a new section featuring good quality lightweight catalogues, eight to start with and we will be adding others from time to time. |
| 6 March | Classic Components - CLB/Alp brakes by Steve Griffith |
| 2 March | We are sorry to announce that Bill Hurlow passed away this week - he will be missed but his work will remain as a permanent memorial to his life. |
| 1 March | Classic Riders - Alf Engers 'The King'
by Peter Underwood Classic Components - Super Champion Gears |
| 27 February | Classic Builders - Young's Cycles of Lewisham (featuring Grandini, Meridian and Metro) by Bryan Clarke |
| 25 February | Readers' Bikes -
from Australia, Mario Romeo's 1967
Legnano Roma Olymiade Reminiscences - Brian Ward on the Metro Cycle Racing Club Club in the 50's - more to follow soon |
| 23 February | Readers' Bikes - Joe Warburton's 1971 Woodrup |
| 22 February | Readers' Bikes - from Australia, David Rapley's 1933 Ganna (Cambio Vittoria) |
| 19 February | Two entries
for H M Dickinson of Liverpool: Classic Builders - H M Dickinson by Jim Leach Readers Bikes - Jon Derricott's 1951 H M Dickinson |
| 18 February | Readers' Bikes - 1949 Hobbs Blue Riband Record owned by Riki Puttock |
| 15 February | Classic Builders - additional information and images on the Frank Lipscombe page from his daughter Pam. |
| 11 February | Classic Builders - Jim Ryan adds his story to the Dave Davey page |
| 7 February | Readers' Bikes - an all original 1949 Hobbs Raceweight owned by Ed Wilding |
| 3 February | Classic Builders - Percy Barnard and Son by Alan Barnard |
| 30 January | Readers' Bikes -Robin Walker's 1947 Dayton Classique ex-works team bike - now with additional images relating to 1947 Brighton to Glasgow Race |
| 29 January | Readers' Bikes - Gary Higgitt's 1956 Hetchins Magnum Bonum with unusual features and original invoice |
| 19 January | Readers' Bikes -
Neil McCormick's 1948
Flying Gate Components - some more head badges added |
| 18 January | Reminiscences - A fascinating piece on the lightweight scene in Durban, South Africa in the 1950's and 60's by Geoff Waters |
| 14 January | Classic Builders - Bill Gameson, the Birmingham builder |
| 12 January | Classic Builders - Querée Brothers by Laurie Weeks |
| 10 January | Reminiscences - Recollections of the Querée Brothers and assorted bikes from the Birmingham area by Laurie Weeks |
| 8 January | Components - Rod front changers by Mark Stevens |
| 4 January | Readers' Bikes - Another Bianchi Paris/Roubaix, this one owned by Gary Higgitt |
| 3
January 2010 |
Readers' Bikes - Jonathan Wright's early 50's Hilton Wrigley International built for his grandfather |
| 26 December | Components - 'Clangers' -rod front changers by Derek Browne |
| 18 December | Classic Builders - Duke's 20th Century Cycles by Christine Watts |
| 16 December | Classic Builders - A piece on Alan Shorter as a builder and a mentor, with amongst others Alf Engers, hopefully we will make three individual pages of this when more information is forthcoming on Alf and Shorter Rochford |
| 15 December | Readers' Bikes - Duke's 20th Century Cycles
owned by Bob Drake Classic Builders - The Upton some new images added |
| 11 December | Readers' Bikes - a rare Jack Sibbit track bike owned by Gary Higgitt |
| 7 December | Components - Simplex Demultiplicator added to Odds and Sods and Simplex vertical rear ends to Frame Building Components |
| 6 December | Reminiscences - Evolution of Classic Lightweights Through the Years by Peter Underwood |
| 27 November | Classic Builders - Knight Cycles, Wolverhampton, by Alvin Smith |
| 14 November | Readers' Bikes - 1948 Hobbs Superbe owned by Patricia Killiard |
| 12 November | Readers' Bikes - 1951 Bates Eucadian owned by Bob Damper |
| 8 November | Reminiscences - Cycling in Huddersfield in
the 1950's by Andrew Loughran Classic Builders - Classic women's frames by Peter Underwood |
| 6 November | Reminiscences - Time Trials in the 1940's/50's by Peter Underwood |
| 27 October | Classic Builders -
Hilton
Wrigley by Norris Lockley Readers' Bikes - 1953 Ernie Clements 'Ercal' owned by Derek Browne |
| 23 October | Restoration - setting up front changers by Steve Griffith |
| 20 October | Readers' Bikes -
Derek Browne's 1963
Pennine Tandem Readers' Bikes - Derek Athey's Granby Regent Taperlite c.1954 |
| 15 October | Readers' Bikes -
Bryan Clarke's 1957 H
R Morris Reminiscences - even more from Tony Bobbett on cycling with the Actonia |
| 12 October | Classic Components -
dating Fiamme
sprint rims by Dale Phelps Classic Builders - Jensen Cycles by Bryan Clarke |
| 9 October | Readers' Bikes - R H Wakefield c.1960 owned by David Webb |
| 7 October | Reminiscences - More on cycling with the Actonia from Tony Bobbett |
| 5 October | Classic Builders - 'London Builders at Home' 1950 |
| 3 October | Classic Builders - James Grundy
- agent for Ephgrave in the U.S. Readers' Bikes - 1956 Gillott Fleur de Lis owned by Daniel Suddaby |
| 28 Sept | Classic
Riders - Clyde
Rimple, a track rider in the 60's Readers' Bikes - a 1963 Harry Hall owned by Alec Coupe |
| 22 Sept | Reminiscences - Tony Bobbett on Cycling with the Actonia |
| 15 Sept | Reminiscences - Martin Jubb on
his teenage cycling years in the Bristol area Readers' Bikes - John Cole's 1965 Pennine Italia Classic Components - British Hub Company Solite by Peter Heinemann Classic Builders - R.O. Harrison: additional material |
| 8 Sept | Classic Builders - Ephgrave: a pictorial story. With unique images provided by James Grundy. |
| 27 Aug | Readers' Bikes - a Claud Butler Jubilee from John Tighe, 1953 of course |
| 26 Aug | Readers' Bikes - Tim Williams's Claud Butler Super Torino c. 1967 |
| 24 Aug | Restoration - Restoring an original classic - Sun Wasp by Derek Athey |
| 7 Aug | Classic Components - the definitive Stronglight crankset timeline by Robert Broderick |
Where it is indicated on the site that you can view larger versions of images click on the originals. The larger images may be constrained by page dimensions but a further click will bring up the full size.
If you have any contribution - text or images - to make, please forward to Peter Underwood, email:-
peter.underwood(at)tesco.net.
If e-mailing substitute an @ sign for '(at)'