I've recently acquired a fairly rare 1955 Westland of Exmouth lightweight frame in its original lilac paint - I'll try and upload a picture later using my daughter's phone - my digi camera images are too large on here apparently.
First off the name has nothing to do with helicopters or aircraft. Westland was the creation of Sid West who set up building frames in Exmouth during the 1950s having worked at Gillotts - they apparently did the paint jobs for him.
I've posted a reply to a running topic, 'Anyone remember Westland Bikes?' on the Cycling UK Forum and have uploaded some pictures on there. This has already drawn a response from someone who thinks the colour and size makes it a possibility that it was his old frame which he sold off back in 1974. If so he had acquired it second hand - a complete bike, from a cycle shop in Plymouth who were selling it on behalf of its owner, Mike Mead ex Plymouth Corinthian CC who was their club 25 champion in the mid 1950s.
This frame will be built back up following a new paint job and I am keen to find out anymore about Westland bikes particularly if anyone else has one or remembers the shop and can confirm if customers specified their own colour finish. Lilac is perhaps an unusual colour choice so there is a good chance it is the same frame. Frame numbering - first two digits are the year of build with the following ones denoting the number built in that particular year. Mine is 55007 and the number can be found on the rear N/S dropout. I doubt overall if many frames were built.
Thanks,
Shaun
First off the name has nothing to do with helicopters or aircraft. Westland was the creation of Sid West who set up building frames in Exmouth during the 1950s having worked at Gillotts - they apparently did the paint jobs for him.
I've posted a reply to a running topic, 'Anyone remember Westland Bikes?' on the Cycling UK Forum and have uploaded some pictures on there. This has already drawn a response from someone who thinks the colour and size makes it a possibility that it was his old frame which he sold off back in 1974. If so he had acquired it second hand - a complete bike, from a cycle shop in Plymouth who were selling it on behalf of its owner, Mike Mead ex Plymouth Corinthian CC who was their club 25 champion in the mid 1950s.
This frame will be built back up following a new paint job and I am keen to find out anymore about Westland bikes particularly if anyone else has one or remembers the shop and can confirm if customers specified their own colour finish. Lilac is perhaps an unusual colour choice so there is a good chance it is the same frame. Frame numbering - first two digits are the year of build with the following ones denoting the number built in that particular year. Mine is 55007 and the number can be found on the rear N/S dropout. I doubt overall if many frames were built.
Thanks,
Shaun
