Crown Star Reynolds 531 - SHROPSHIRE

[Tsundere]

Not a road bike fan per se but I have to admit this bike really jumped out at me, never heard of the maker before but for me it's a very charming little machine, and if it's a Reynolds 531 frame as claimed then it might even be a goodie, in which case a potential bargain project for someone.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174871241695?hash=item28b72363df:g:A1YAAOSw0ZNg6C9d

 

[Midlife]

Lugs look very Crespera like which suggests a Carlton in disguise. However haden did make some similar but don't see many frames with them,

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar6jgwgiO...AB1I/9bgFIKQjOwc/s1600/frames+(1162x1600).jpg

 

[otherself]

 

[Tsundere]

Fascinating, so this could either be a very rare bike indeed or it's a fairly decent bike dressed as a very rare bike. Does anyone know anything about Crown Bikes?

I haven't owned a road bike since I was a kid, really tempted by this even if it's nowt special, just like the look of it.

 

[Midlife]

Here's another Crown..... This time with Carlton Capella lugs. How odd that these bikes have Carlton lugs.

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...y-frame-a-crown-comet-made-in-england.267837/

 

[Tsundere]

Here's another Crown..... This time with Carlton Capella lugs. How odd that these bikes have Carlton lugs.

interesting, says that the 'Star' was listed as a ladies bike, can't say I've seen many 22'' ladies frames with horizontal top tubes also...

''...The Carlton Capella lugs were sold off after Carltons ceased to be Carltons. Thus many small builders would have bought up a stock of them and thus their bikes would have looked similar, and I suspect that's the story behind Crown.''

Intriguing.

 

[Midlife]

II think Carlton stuff was sold about 1986-7, which seems perhaps to late to build these bikes? Intriguing indeed