1956 Claud Butler New Allrounder

[TheElectronKid]

I've been thinking about doing a genuine "Claud" Claud Butler build for a few years now but nothing suitable had come along until earlier this year.
For me genuine Claud Butler meant something produced before he went bust in late 1956 and the Bi-Laminate frame was probably his most iconic.
So when a March '56 dated frame came up for sale on the evilbay I took the plunge on a buy-it-Now, probably for a bit more than I should have.
Overall it was in pretty good original condition apart from the lug lining, which someone had badly redone with a gold paint pen.
I'd seen an identical frame at the Ripley bike jumble so knew the original lug lining would probably have been in white and with that in mind got out the Nitromors to strip back the paint around the lugs.
Nitromors isn't what it used to be and so had to use some fine sanding pads on my Dremel to finish the job off, but as you can see the Bi-Laminate lug construction is now clearly visible in all it's glory.
I'm thinking about carefully matching the paint on the lugs and lining them in an ivory white colour to match the rest of the decals and then clear coating the frame to preserve the original paintwork.

Any suggestions on build parts most welcome.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hello ElectronKid
That looks like a great project and those lugs do look nice exposed. Were the lugs originally black like the frame?
Do you have a fork with it?
That should come up very nicely and certainly something special even if left as is
Look forward to seeing this progress.

I like your tag as well, I have an CB Electron frame in the loft.

Jamie

 

[TheElectronKid]

Re:

Hi Jamie

Good to hear from a fellow CB Electron owner. They're not the best quality frame out there but I really like the paint schemes on the early 70's models.
I had the Golden Yellow Enamel frame and my brother had the Campagnolo Blue Flam.
We both rode our bikes to school during the 70's, unfortunately the bikes were nicked from our parents garage years later after we had left home.
When I got back into cycling about 10 years ago I saw the same frame I'd had come up for auction on ebay and couldn't resist, even though it was too small for me to ride. Then about a year later a Campag Blue Flam frameset came along and ended up being the perfect build project to give to my brother for his 50th.
This is a bit of a detour from my original post but anyone that has a soft spot for Claud Butler's might appreciate the pics.

 

[Spokesmann]

Great looking frame and bikes.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hi
While I have the Electron frame in the loft, and it has sat there for a fair while, it is in no way any where near the condition of yours.
It was given to me by someone who thought I may restore it and ride it, it came with seat post, bars, headset, stem, chainwheel etc but all in a pretty sorry state. The Macretro rider who gave it to me received it in that state and had had it for a long time like that as well. It was one of those sad frames that some people would throw away but like most of them, I just tend to see the potential to become something special. From memory I think it's a 69 or 70 model? It is blue, or was, like yours above but doesn't have the white panels. It has been up there for a good few years and while I have several bikes to ride, I was really disappointed to one day be heading up the loft and, with the frame hanging above me I noticed what looked like a small ripple on the underside of the downtube, closer inspection showed it did indeed have a small ripple underneath near the head tube and the top tube had a very slight ridge on the top side just behind the head tube. Obviously it has had a bit of a front end shunt, checked the forks and they were straight and in line, it's only slight and I may not have ever noticed if I rode it but it certainly put a damper on things as I was going to paint it, just myself so definitely nothing flash but it just sort of stalled once I seen that. The forks are 531 so maybe that's why they are still straight It sits there still so one day I am sure it will come down for a bit of TLC.
Yours look amazing and I am sure the Allrounder will come up really special.
Looking forward to watching it progress.

Jamie

 

[Wheelnut]

That's a lovely frame and will build up into a fine bike. I think the axe head design looks great. Most genuine Clauds (pre-holdsworth) ride beautifully, and even the cheaper ones in the range are still pretty good. I wrote an article on the bilaminate models for the Classic Lightweights website that you might want to take a look at.

I have a Claud Butler bilaminate also, a 1955 Avant Coureur Special, built up with period equipment so will post up some pictures when I get a chance. Mine has an oversize top tube, which makes for a strong frame with a lively yet resilient ride.

Curiously, I also have a blue 1970s CB Electron frame, soon to go in the for sale section for very little money as it is surplus to requirements.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hi Wheelnut
Depending on size and price of course, but I would definitely be interested in your CB Electron when you put it for sale. It would be good to build one that was unbent and safe to ride.
All the best

Jamie

 

[Wheelnut]

For component spec for a 1956 CB, I would suggest the following:

Brooks B17 narrow saddle (oval logo ideally, but the later trapezoid logo would be okay) with alloy seatpost and separate clip.
GB spear point alloy stem (or a chrome one) with GB bars with central ferrule.
GB Coureur or Mafac dural forge brake callipers with Mafac levers. (With Mafac logo like this M.a.f.a.c. Not the later ones without the dots).
Chainset Williams C34 or C1000, or the alloy Stronglight 49d.
Gears should be Cyclo Benelux (the Mk7 is good and easily found, but 1957 on, so just about in period) or Simplex Tour de France. The lever mount braze-on will only accept Cyclo or Simplex, not Campagnolo.
For the wheels, look for BH Airlite or Bayliss Wiley hubs, or perhaps Hardens if you can find them, and Weinmann Alesa 27in alloy rims can still be found. Brown wall tyres. You could also fit 700c rims if you use Mafac brakes. Not in period, but easily found.
If you fit mudguards, the aluminium Bluemels Continental style look the part, but very hard to find in decent nick.
An old and battered Carradice bag (the type with the small plastic riveted on badge) would finish it off nicely.

Good luck!

Jamie... My Electron frame is a 24in and is about '75, so it lacks the white panels. It is very sound and rust free, original flam blue but a bit scruffy, so could do with a repaint. Was last used a couple of years back when I built it up for a friend to tour the a Western Isles. If you can collect it from Alston, Cumbria, you could have it for free.
Martin

 

[TheElectronKid]

Re:

Hi Martin, thanks for your recommendations on the build spec.
Great minds obviously think alike, because I've either got, or am thinking about getting most of the stuff on your build list.
At the moment I've got a pair of 27" wheels with Weinmann Alesa rims and Normandy large flange hubs dating from the 80's which will get me on the road but are obviously not period correct.
I'm also going to use my Weinmann centre pull brakes and levers from the 70's, but again would like to get some period correct Mafac's at some point.
The first job on my list will be to paint the bi-laminate lugs satin black to match the rest of the frame, then get a lug lining pen and have a go at re-doing the lug lining in an ivory white colour similar to that on the frame decals.

 

[Jamiedyer]

That certainly sounds like it's all going to come together very nicely with this setup. Will look quite understated with the lugs matching the frame and lined in white.
Look forward to seeing it.
Martin, thank you very, very much for the very kind offer but alas, your Electron would be far too big for me, 21, maybe 21 1/2 for me
That is very generous and I am grateful but not good if I cannot reach the ground

Jamie