Interesting find?

[Pedro_orange]

Hi all. I'm new to the forum after lurking for a while. Anyway I found this left out for the bin men just wondering if anyone has any info before I mess about with it. I think it's a Claud butler? It's had a shoddy brush paint job at some point.

 

[Spiderweb]

It’s a shame it has a ding in the seat stay, not sure it would be worth fixing up?

 

[Cycleops]

As above and also the seat post may be stuck.
Saddle could be worth saving though.

 

[uphillstruggler]

take it to an engineering firm or frame restorer if you feel like restoring, the seat stay may be salvageable/replaceable.

 

[biggs682]

as @Cycleops says check that the seat post is free to move and adjust fully before spending time and money

 

[Pedro_orange]

Thanks. To be fair the ding looks worse in the pic than real life. Not planning on spending much on it, just going to mess about and see if it'll turn into anything useful.

 

[12boy]

Thanks. To be fair the ding looks worse in the pic than real life. Not planning on spending much on it, just going to mess about and see if it'll turn into anything useful.

That's the gateway drug right there...no I won't spend any money on parts or powdercoat, no it's just something to fool around with, no, I could always find room for another bike, and the next thing you know you have scabby old parts everywhere, you are spending your lunch money to get new parts, and having lots of fun tinkering with other people's cast offs. Go for it!

 

[nonowt]

Looks mid 60s to me but this is the place for Claud Butler info: http://www.nkilgariff.com/

 

[MichaelW2]

The difference between a rideable old frame and a collectable old frame can often be seen in the rear dropouts, even on bikes lacking any badge or branding.
Your old bike had stamped steel dropouts typical of factory frames. Custom and high end workshop frames would have used moulded or investment cast dropouts which are stiffer.

The lugwork on high end frames has handwork to clean up and blend the edges.

The finest steel frame I have ever seen was top end Claude Butler but this is not the same.

 

[davidphilips]

Centre pull brakes, shortie mud guards, brooks saddle engraved handlebars nice lugs, theres no way i would put that in a bin.

 

[Pedro_orange]

The handlebars also have ventoux on them if that makes any difference

 

[biggs682]

Thanks. To be fair the ding looks worse in the pic than real life. Not planning on spending much on it, just going to mess about and see if it'll turn into anything useful.

That sounds like a good plan to me

 

[raleighnut]

Nice

 

[CBGuy]

Pedro_orange,

Prugnat 62S Lugs were used by Holdsworthy on a lot of their Claud Butlers from takeover in 1959 until the mid 70's. Oiler on top of BB would confirm pre or if on bottom post 1965. Fork crown looks pre 1965. Likely 60's sometime. Could be a Challenge, Classique, Velo Capital, Velo Valentino or European. No way of knowing but if Universal 61 brakes are original likely a Classique. Does it have a Lamp boss? More pics would be good too.

Date from serial off bottom of BB or fork stem would help in searching the model.

I've been working with a couple of other fellows on Retrobike collecting Claud Butler serials in period above and so far have serials of more than 60 frames. Developed a date prediction table. If you go to my Flickr account with pics of frames you should be able to get a likely date from prediction table and from that look at relevant year(s) of Kilgariff's catalogues to better sort model possibilities.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/76762476@N05/albums

Hope helps. If you are able, I would be interested in knowing number so as to add to our data.

Doug

 

[Pedro_orange]

It's hard to see the number on the bb due to the dodgy paint job. There's a mount on one side of the fork is that for a light?