Mystery Old Road Bike - Help!

Hi Guys,

Was wondering if anyone could help shed some light on what this bike is. One of my friends popped it round this morning. It had been sitting in a garden for a long time and the weather has taken its toll a bit.

Could it be an old Claud Butler? The frame has no markings on it aside from a serial number "731097". Its 4 speed and has an old Lucas bell on there and a simplex gear lever. Aside from that most other bits on it are a mystery.

Any ideas?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48358202@N00/sets/72157608044538666/

It looks like a Chater Lea or Williams chainset and Osgear changer (I'm not a great expert, someone may know better)

It's not an Osgear, it's a Simplex or Huret Tour de France mech. Would be clearer if it was cleaned up a bit.

731097 doesn't sound like a Claud Butler, it's certainly older than a 1973 build - and definitely not 1997!

The fluted seat stay cluster could be a clue.

Have a look on - http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/ - you might find a similar bike on there.

Thanks for the help guys. I've been trawling the web and found this...



This Claud Butler Jubilee looks similar. The seatstay cluster looks very similar although there aren't any pointy down bits near the rear dropouts. The cranks and rear mech look quite similar (but noyt quite the same). Could we be getting close....?

You're right, it does look similar. CB did make some lovely lugless welded frames. I think they were (some anyway) built by Bill Gray who built my Dave Russell (see thread in readers' bikes).

The 'pointy down bits' are part of the dropouts designed for use with Osgear style rear mechs.

That's a very nice bike you've found, what site is it on?

I found it here...

http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/image-archive.html

Ahh! I see what you mean about the pointy down bits. Thanks for clarifying that.

Yes, thanks. I'd forgotten about that site having a bike gallery. Nice bikes shown there.

Paris/Rensch did lugless bikes around that period also...