Holdsworth Special maybe ?

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Holdsworth Special ?
Was told it was late 70’s poss 79 ?? I’m thinking 1980 going by frame number but I’m just a Holdsworth newbie so any info is welcome
Large frame 60cm seat tube and a mixture of components , bought it from a guy near me , he said he got it from Rotrax cycles in Shirley (Southampton) they built it up for him , they had stopped making there own frames so he chose this instead .

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aANsqViaStzBUQtZA
 

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The other number is a Southampton post code.
The whole bike looks early 1970s, long Campagnolo ends etc., and looks like a Holdsworthy frame, so the frame number is a bit of a mystery.
If it was made as "own name" for the trade it would probably not have had a head badge.

Keith
 
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Thanks Keith , yeah I realised the other stamp was the postcode of the previous owner , he did say he thought it was around 50 yrs old but couldnt remember exactly when he bought it .
Did you manage to date it by the stamp number ?
 
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dwscrimshaw has collected a vast list of known frame numbers for WF Holdsworth and Holdsworthy. His list makes yours 1980, but too me it just looks a few years older. As The Holdsworthy Company were in decline they could have made a frame with old Campagnolo ends, or they could have been specified.

Keith
 
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Yes a late '70s- early '80s Holdsworth Special. The components look to be original and will have date codes too, possibly from the year before the frame.

Keith- This frame is from a time when you would have to pay what you might call: "The Professional premium" for a db frame with 16" chainstays and 39" wheelbase, which by this date would also come with "short" Campag dropouts.

Frames with 17" chainstays would still use the old "long" dropouts.
 
It's after 1978 as it has brazed on top tube guides, after 82 I think the rear mech cable went under BB. Here's a 1981 special.

Special81.jpg
 
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Brilliant information guys , I’m amazed :LOL: and pleased .

So I couldn’t wait to give a strip down and start cleaning it up , I’ll be using all the original components again apart from new bar tape, brake pads and possibly tyres oh and also hoods if I can find some decent ones ??
It’s coming up nicely , there’s a couple more dates shown on the crank arm and Calipers

Im in two minds wether to try and remove the lug lining which the previous owner done , he also added his initials MW on the top of the rear seat stays.
 

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Nice when the dates align isn’t it? December ‘79 for the cranks, January ‘80 for the braked & a 1980 frame prediction.

I think I’d T-cut the lug lining and replace the special sticker with something a little more stylish from H Lloyds cycles. (It’s the wrong style, wrong colour and it’s on wonky)
 
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Yeah I was dubious about those special decals , I’ll get the correct ones , and yes I’ll give the lug lining a go with t-cut , it’s nice to get things back to orig. ;)
 
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That's a nice collection of components too- Campag seatpin (or SR copy?) SR Royal cranks and stem, Crane rear mech, Milremo Pro saddle..
 
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