1952 Claud Butler Massed Start #522513 (skip find)

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Had this frame set donated to my collection by Shortarts today, Cheers Steve!
It’s a frame that was dragged out of a loft during a house renovation project, then unceremoniously dumped in a builder’s skip. :cry:
Fortunately Steve, spied the end of the forks and hoyked it to safety… :D
I’d seen some photos and one particular detail stood out, that of the cable roller. Matching that with the date I originally thought it might be a Continental Classique.
Now I have the frame in my possession, I realise my initial thoughts are way out, I think its most likely to be a No6 “Closed Circuit” Mk2, this is by far the closest to its kit and details although there is one curved ball… The KROMO Chrome Molybdenum Steel tubing transfer.
The "Closed Circuit" bikes are advertised in the 1949 Catalogue and the last reference I can find to Accles & Pollock tubing was in the 1948 catalogue, whereas this frame is clearly stamped up as built in 1952.
So, I’m going to run some photos and details past the CB Marque specialist at the VCC. And get a second opinion.

But if any of you want to throw your two peneth in, be my guest!

Chris. :cool:
 

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Re: 1951 Claud Butler No7 “Closed Circuit” Mk1 Any opinions?

And some lug details;
 

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Re: Re:

NeilM":1e70v7sk said:
GAWD! You like a bit of a challenge, don't you.

Out of the two free bikes I was given on that day Neil, I think we both know which one is going to be the easier! :shock:
 
Re:

Nice find! Who doesn't appreciate a decent skip find?

Interested to see how it cleans up, the pitting looks pretty deep in a few places. I'm sure you'll do your usual cracking job of course!
 
Re:

I really like those Gnutti splined cranks... theoretically. No cotter pins, no dedicated crank removal tools necessary..
 
Re: Re:

skylark":2k5cqouj said:
Nice find! Who doesn't appreciate a decent skip find?

Interested to see how it cleans up, the pitting looks pretty deep in a few places. I'm sure you'll do your usual cracking job of course!
Got THM to thank for this one, the “find” was on the introduce yourself thread….

torqueless":2k5cqouj said:
I really like those Gnutti splined cranks... theoretically. No cotter pins, no dedicated crank removal tools necessary..


Hmmm, nice theory, the retaining bolt moved no problem, and the splined axle looks clean enough, but this baby isn’t going anywhere without a fight….. its now soaked in WD40 whilst I earn brownie points in the garden…
 

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Re: 1951 Claud Butler No7 “Closed Circuit” Mk1 Any opinions?

Looks like a great project but one thing is bugging me. Are the forks straight? I know the picture is close up (mystery 12) but to my eye the forks don't look parallel to the head tube.
 
Re: 1951 Claud Butler No7 “Closed Circuit” Mk1 Any opinions?

Whilst mowing the lawn I had a little epiphany… working on the principle that the mechanical advantage of un-screwing a thread is quite strong, I hit upon the idea of ganging up a couple of cheep thin Halford spanners and then un-screwing the left cup against them…. Hey presto…easy peasy :D
 

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Re: 1951 Claud Butler No7 “Closed Circuit” Mk1 Any opinions?

peetee":bxbvgx5h said:
Looks like a great project but one thing is bugging me. Are the forks straight? I know the picture is close up (mystery 12) but to my eye the forks don't look parallel to the head tube.


I see what you mean, but rest assured they are fine. The photo has them back to front and without any balls in the head set.

I’m more concerned about the chain stay, I can’t work out if the kink is deliberate or not… whats swaying me towards a deliberate Kink is;
a. The drop-outs are parallel
b. The seat stays are straight
c. If the chain stay wasn’t kinked, it would be extraordinarily close to those Guntti twin chain rings
 

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