1953 Holdsworth Whirlwind

[juvela]

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lovely job and most thoughtful fittings selection!

a brave project to take on the replication of a chromovelato finish, also sometimes referred to as chrome-o-luxe

headset is Thomas D. Cross & Sons Limited model "S" -



like earlier posters am much impressed you got the Benelux to handle all of those dents

one of the latest components on the build are the Campag Nuovo Tipo hubs

their first appearance in a Campag manufacturer catalogue came in Nr. 15, published in 1967

actual launch may have been closer of 1965

they were preceded in 1961 by the launch of the Sportman model which can be seen, in the perspective of history, as somewhat of a "proto Nuovo Tipo"



Thank you again for sharing this project and its most excellent completion!


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[Glug]

I believe the paint was "Mirror flamboyant"

1955 Holdsoworth catalogue



Whatever it was called it's a damn fine finish.

 

[Glug]

Now on to the third build.

It turns out I really don't like a heavy shifter action, and Cyclo Benelux Mark 8 Tourist + 50s Simplex shifter is really quite heavy.
My 1961 Cyclone has SunTour Cyclone Mk2 GT + SunTour Power Shifters so I'm a bit spoilt.
A shame to lose the period mech but I do intend to ride this bike.

So I got a SunTour Cyclone mk1 GT off Ebay and a Simplex Retrofriction shifter, much better action.
I'd say about as good as Power Shifters but without the clicking (which I find useful) and slightly different pull.
Took some getting used to but now works fine - had to learn where the gears were on the shifter.

Big advantage is the mk1 GT has 36 wrap so I could try a 32 cog on the back for 37 wrap:
13-15-17-20-24-32 + 50/32 and all 12 gears work fine.
Also my biggest every gear range + lowest gear of 1:1
Whirlwind top, Cyclone bottom
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR...DERS&KB2=36,52&RZ2=13,15,17,19,24,32&UF2=2125


And it looks fabulous


I would say the 'cromovaleto' is actually working - check out that DT


Vintage retrofriction shifters are stupid money so I'm using the more modern version