Mystery Frame - FW Evans

dwscrimshaw

Retro Guru
Trying to ID a frame badged as a Holdsworth when I got it, but the frame number is all wrong. It appears to be a PG Track/Sprint, but has road forks so could have been modified from a road bike. The BB is fairly high at 10.75" with 39.5" WB and 16.5" rear stay, angles are 74 Seat and 73 head. It takes a 26.8mm seat pin, 27.2mm will not fit. It has no rear stay brace behind the BB Which I understand as a TT trend, but has track ends. Clearance on the wheels is limited particularly the front which seems to be for the use of tubs. I am assuming an 80/90's frame due shape of the recessed brake boss on the rear.

My initial thoughts was it was a shop built Roy Thame as its common to see these badged incorrectly as a Holdsworth and it has some similarities to the Competizione of the 70's. The main problem is the frame number location on the down tube socket on the BB and the style of rear brake boss. I have not seen this on anything out of the Holdsowrth Shop. It is used on a few factory models and plenty of Faclon Holdsworth in the 90's.

Having looked at many other options F W Evans of the 80's looks a distinct possibility for the following reasons. I have seen an Evans with a 3 digit number marked in this location late 80's so my 2 digit number is possibly an earlier one. I have seen Evans frame with this style of seat stay attachment and brake boss in the 80's. FW Evans did not seem to use head badges only decals and this frame does not have the rivet holes. Also I have seen PG frames and frames with windows in the lugs. I also believe Evans bought frame from both Holdsworth and Falcon at times so could explain the incorrect badge use.

What I have not seen is an Evans track/sprint or TT frame or any info on frame numbering for Evans. I have seen older frames with higher 4 digit numbers and a frame carrying a Holdsworth Factory number from the late 70's. I realise all these features are not unique to any one builder, but the Evans frames I have seen seem to be the closest. These also could also be indicative of a particular contract frame builder rather than any one company as I understand there would have been a lot of cross over in that area of London at the time.

I have attached some of the pictures below, my frame is the light blue one with the #55. My feeling is that this is some sort of training/winter single speed of the mid 80's. Any thoughts would be helpful.
 

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This is my early 80's Evans touring bike which I've unearthed from the back of the garage...robbed of some parts for my Holdsworth Mistral. Although many features are different i thought the frame number format may be of some help. I have read on the MTB section that some of the early Evans MTB frames were built by Bluemells... mentioned on page 2 on this thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=260404&start=0
 

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Thanks, Interesting, it has those windows in the lugs. I see this has cantilever brakes, but does it also have a recessed boss on the rear brake bridge. Looks like it's used for the mudguard bracket here, if so what is the shape of it?

Looks like a Holdsworth 6D factory number with the leading zeros, right location although slightly different text style and upside down. Holdsworth did build for Evans and other Co./Shops, I have recently seen another tourer from 1979. Maybe this was built off site by a local frame builder under licence from Holdsworth for Evans, it has those Evans seat stay caps, who knows, even the Holdsworth number style varied a bit. If that is a 6D number it would be built 1976/77. Not unusual for these frames to turn up with a later sale date, but I still assume it would have been sold in the 70's. Those TT cable guides are common with Holdsworth. Although typically from the 80's there are a few that got them earlier or had them added, but I guess are std items available to all.

I am building a log of Holdsworth numbers and would be interested in the number for your Mistral, if you willing to have it added, some photos to if so. Thanks again.
 
More than happy to be on the Holdsworth registrer.. :) more pictures and information about my Mistral on page 65 of your excellent Holdsworth thread.. thank you.
Got a similar rear bridge to yours, the catalogue bike is same specification as mine with the exception of the TA cranks.
Found a little bit more information about Evans here... cheers VC.
https://www.lcc.org.uk/articles/london- ... speciality.
 

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