Holdsworth - help confirming age

Rich A

Retro Newbie
Hi All,

Can anyone help date this Holdworth from this photo? The headbadge has the crown so after 1953/54. The BB serial number looks like 9645 then a gap and another digit which I cannot make out then 83 separately stamped underneath.

Any ideas appreciated - I have looked at http://www.nkilgariff.com and https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/f ... TNKZkN4TmM for frame number sequencing but not sure if it is a 4 or 5 digit serial number.

Any help appreciated, even decade would be good.

Thanks

Richard
 

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Re:

From what I can see, the cast lugs and 2 plate fork crown would probably be no later than 1951/2. Very few builders would have used these much later, although I had a new frame in 1951 with a 2 plate crown and cast lugs.
Dave Scrimshaws amazing lists show 1948, which is in line with the appearance.
A few more close up details could help, seat lug, ends brake bridge etc.

Keith
 
Thanks Keith, these photos might help...
 

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How about this one Keith, this is all I have. So you reckon 1948?
 

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Those top eyes on the seat lug look 100% WF Holdsworth. The black panels suggest a repaint in the 70's, could have got the head badge then.

The bike looks to me typical late 40s to early 50s. Are those Conloy rims?

Keith
 
Thanks Keith, no details I thought I’d look for a 40s - 50s bike to work on and this came on the radar...
 
Re:

Can't be sure from the angle of the picture, but the forks look a bit back.
Its not a problem, but 531 forks really take some pulling. I used to do loads of commuter bikes in the 50s with bent back forks and frames, where the users could not afford to pay and needed their transport to get 6 pounds a week.

Keith
 
I think you might be right Keith. I’ll keep looking for a bike that inspires me to bring it back to life...thanks again
 
Re:

The 531 blades were usually very strong, probably only needs a little tweak of the fork crown. The forks are probably now about 3 times as strong as the old Raleigh commuter bikes front forks I used to pull.

Keith
 
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