1948 Claud Butler International Club build

[DKimberley]

So, despite it been about 2C in the garage, I’ve made a start on building my Claud Butler up.
I’d already done a ’dry’ assembly to check fits etc. so today I’ve taken the bars & stem off and greased those and refitted and done the same with the saddle & seatpost.
I’ve fitted the brakes and cabled them up.
They’re B&T centre pull brakes with reversed cabling ( the cast-on cable barrel sits in a yoke on the brake and then there’s a brass ferrule that sits inside the brake lever and the cable runs through this and is held in place by 2 clamping grub screws.
There is an LMB crankset currently soaking in some deruster that will go on Once I’ve cleaned it up, although the teeth look pretty worn. The pedals spin freely, but I’ll service them before fitting.

 

[Big Block]

Re:

you have some very interesting components there.
It again shows the range of manufacturers at the time, and the different approaches taken.
Please take more photos for this viewer on the other side of the world, who finds some days the temperature is too hot to work in the garage. (a 43C day is forecast for next week)

 

[Peachy!]

Subscribed

 

[dutchie]

curious for the rest already...

 

[allenh]

curious for the rest already...

Yep comfy chair pulled up and snacks at the ready

 

[DKimberley]

curious for the rest already...

Yep comfy chair pulled up and snacks at the ready

Patience guys, patience.
I hope to get the pedals stripped, cleaned & serviced this week. And assess the condition of the crankset. I fear they may be in need of rechroming.

 

[Peachy!]

Any chance of some more photos of the frame?

 

[DKimberley]

After a bit more filing of the front axle I managed to get both wheels in!

 

[VeloFellow54]

Interested to see the CB International Club. I have one also of similar date (October 194.It had the olympic colours around the head tube under the head badge also. It was in a poor state when acquired, but had the original stem, head set, bottom bracket, and brakes, The original brakes were steel Radnalls' and were in a very sorry state. Stem was Reynolds twin bolt, head set and BB both Bayliss and the chainset (date code 194 was Williams. I have it set up with a single speed freewheel (as per the catalogue) and added 26" Constrictor rims on small flange Bayliss hubs. Added correct period GB brakes also. It rides beautifully and the frame is still one of the lightest that I have. It was originally in silver with red & black box lining with a red/black script down tube decal and I restored it to something close to original. See photo after restoration. The shorty guards in matching livery are just a bit of fancy nonsense on my part !

 

[DKimberley]

Looks very nice. Thanks for sharing. I’m sure PeachyPM will want to know more such as frame number. I finally got the drive train sorted on mine this weekend and managed to go for a very short test ride. A little cramped for me (I’m 6’1”), and felt very wobblyflexy on the front end. Could be the short stem or flex in the bars.