Claud Butler DSH

[Nabeaquam]

I have already restored the original wheels, 303 mm front spokes and 1.8 and the double butting went up from the nipple about three inches. I had to have custom spokes made and I wire wrapped and soldered as original. I made a set of wood clinchers for convenience and to save the originals. My new wheels are on it. It has the BSA headset and crank upgrade and a Coventry block chain. My storage area can get damp in winter so I’m going to repaint it. I’ll let the next guy do a resto on the nickel and paint. The number on it starts with a 1 So 1931 or 41?

 

[Peachy!]

Nice, any more photos and can I ask what the frame number is?

 

[Nabeaquam]

I’m 75, too old to be investing in more shop grade tools that I will hardly ever use. Every thing is pin drive on it and my pin drive wrench was too wimpy to disassemble it. I made a long tool, welded on pins, but they snapped off. So it’s at the bike shop but they are a month behind, even with a night shift. It’s got 3 sets of numbers on the BB. Two are crude and one is clear and professional looking. I was told the cruder stamps are the painter and frame makers marks, but I don’t know. Someone started to to strip the paint. Strips and paint gouges removed with a scraper. The DSH decal is still there, but it’s very yellow and dim. I can’t find a replacement for that. As soon as I get it back I’ll post some photos. The plan is to take it to Asheville North Carolina and run it on the Mellowdrome. They let anyone run on that if there is no racing, no class required. It’s old fashioned so it’s not steeply banked and has new asphalt. I have no others pictures , but I’ll get more in a few weeks. Thanks for your interest and any information would be greatly appreciated. I also have this fixed gear bicycle that’s quie a bit older and no one seems to know what it is. It’s American, that’s all I know. The riding position is horrible and 4 - 5 miles is all I can handle on it.

 

[Peachy!]

I can't help you with your American model although it does look a handsome machine.
The DSH on the other hand is possibly more likely to be a 1931 special order as this was the first year it was used in international competition (Denmark 1931 World Championships) it wasn't advertised in the CB catalogues to the general public until 1936 and was dropped from the range by the end of 1939 although it would have been possible to have order one in 1941 I think everyone was a little busy with more pressing matters in London back then!

I look forward to seeing some photos of it at the track

 

[Nabeaquam]

I can't help you with your American model although it does look a handsome machine.
The DSH on the other hand is possibly more likely to be a 1931 special order as this was the first year it was used in international competition (Denmark 1931 World Championships) it wasn't advertised in the CB catalogues to the general public until 1936 and was dropped from the range by the end of 1939 although it would have been possible to have order one in 1941 I think everyone was a little busy with more pressing matters in London back then!

I look forward to seeing some photos of it at the track

its coming along. All new ball bearings in the bb and head set. The original wheels had rusted and bent spokes so those are new. I’m sad I could not source spokes like the original. The originals were 1.8 mm at the wheel and 2 mm at the hub. The double butting was long, about 6 cm. The nipples were soaked in penetrating oil for 3 months and they all came loose. The original nipples are used in the rebuild. The front spokes were 304 mm so new 1.8 mm ones were custom cut by Mr. Rabbit in California. Hub washers are used at the hub. I wrapped and soldered the spoke crosses like original. Next, I’m going to rebuild the pedals with new ball bearings. The pedals are slightly mismatched and I don’t know if that is original or not. There is no brand on the pedals but the left shaft is shorter. I wonder if this was for clearance on high banked tracks? The original block chain is a little worn but it could be flipped for a better surface. The links are riveted and there is no master link, it’s bolted together. Links are stamped “The Coventry England”. I have a new laminated block chain that I’ll use for it when I ride it. All the original parts except bearings and the spokes are saved. The bb has two numbers, I was told the bigger one was the frame makers mark, but bike nuts here never heard of Claud Butler. I’m using new CB Italia clincher rims with big 35 mm wide tires to ride on the not so smooth bike path. Bonus picture out our front door as we are finally not having snow showers. It’s 16 Celsius now but for days it’s been -0 Celsius with a blizzard and 4 inches of snow on Wednesday. It’s all gone from our yard but persists a little in the shelter.

 

[Peachy!]

Excellent stuff, and a wonderful view from your front door!
Nether sequence is immediately recognised as “normal” but if had to choose I’d go for 156 9-1 being frame number 156 from 1939 January.
it’s more in keeping with the style of stamping seen in early Clauds. What would confirm it would be a matching stamp from the steering tube.
The 551190 doesn’t fit so well as 1935 May (55) would have produced many more frames than 1190 and it’s in a completely different font/style. It’s perhaps the mfr number for the BB shell.

 

[Nabeaquam]

Excellent stuff, and a wonderful view from your front door!
Nether sequence is immediately recognised as “normal” but if had to choose I’d go for 156 9-1 being frame number 156 from 1939 January.
it’s more in keeping with the style of stamping seen in early Clauds. What would confirm it would be a matching stamp from the steering tube.
The 551190 doesn’t fit so well as 1935 May (55) would have produced many more frames than 1190 and it’s in a completely different font/style. It’s perhaps the mfr number for the BB shell.

Thank you very much. Another Claud Butler track bike photo I saw on the net from around 1939 had alloy rims. Any idea if the mismatched pedal spindles are original? It’s surprisingly light. If there was a tubing decal it’s now gone. It’s an incredible bike. It’s wonderful to be able to see what high tech was back then. They were out for blood with the thin spokes and long buts on the spokes and the cross soldered crosses. If the short pedal was intentional that just adds more to how competitive this bike must have been. I can’t wait to ride it. I didn’t notice a number on the steerer, but I wasn’t looking for one. I did some photos of the lugs as that is sometimes helpful. I have the original bb grease zerks.

 

[Nabeaquam]

I found the other Claud track bike on line. Hilary Stone has it in his sold bicycle section. Hilary says it’s a 1938 DSH, but it has alloy rims and a different frame, the seat stays are different. It’s a mystery, it will probably not ever be solved.