Company History

William Frank (Sandy) Holdsworth (b Apr-Jun 1891)
A keen cyclist and member of the Kentish Wheelers CC. Sandy and his brother Jack set a 24 hr track tandem record which probably still stands.
Sandy worked for Legal & General Insurance until he retired (Roy Thame).

Margaret Amelia Bryars (b Jul-Sept 1900)
A keen CTC rider whose family were in the clothing textile business. Margaret (aged 15) was appointed as a Post-Office “Learner” on 25 April 1916, during WW1. Bill Hurlow told me that she was awarded an OBE because she continued serving customers while a Zeppelin was above, but I have been unable to confirm this as yet. Research Notes

After the 1914-18 war, appropriate clothing for cycling was unavailable. By early 1922 (cf 1952 ‘Aids’ Intro) Margaret had started producing shorts, plus fours, cycling skirts etc. which proved popular. Sandy and Margaret married in the first quarter of 1923. She started a mail order business late in 1923 for the 1924 season, from home at 121 Lennard Rd, Beckenham, Kent. The range grew year on year, e.g. the CTC saddlebag was added in 1926 and racing shoes in 1929. A free product catalogue “Aids to Happy Cycling” was issued, but perhaps not immediately. This ran to the calendar year, the earliest one I have is 1930.

Jack made the first three Holdsworth frames here, numbered 01,02, 03, the year is uncertain, but 1930-1933. “Jack used coal-gas and air (by pumping large foot bellows), a method he continued for repairs until well after WW2. Frame production continued until 1935, in the sheds at the rear of 132, under the control of Arthur Eaves, later to become Holdsworth Co. Works Manager” (RT).

The 1930’s

Aids to Happy Cycling 1930 shows Holdsworth offering a very small selection of tyres, brakes & pedals along with their mainstay of clothing, saddlebags & camping kit. This booklet and adverts to Apr 1931 all mention 4 locations.

• 121 Lennard Rd, Beckenham, Kent. (The house, write or phone only)
• 132 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney, London SW15 (Near Putney Bridge)
• 185 Markhouse Rd, Walthamstow E 17
•     5 Thesiger Rd, Penge SE20

At some stage (Jun 1932-1934) cycling garments and shoes started being marketed under the brand name “Worthy“.

On 24 Nov 1933 they advertised a complete show of Holdsworth Cycles for Olympia Week, from £7-17-6 with the Stelvio at £10-10-0 & Tandems from £16-16-0. Two new addresses have been added to the above 4:

• 59-60 Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town
• Holdsworths Provincial Depot, 143 Newtown Row, Birmingham

The 1933/4 catalogue, which was prepared & on offer by 24 Nov 1933, consisted of a range of cycles, including two tandems. This suggests they were not new to making framesets.

• 121 Lennard Rd, Beckenham, Kent. (The house, write only)
• 132 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney, London SW15
• 185 Markhouse Rd, Walthamstow E 17
•     5 Thesiger Rd, Penge SE20
• 59-60 Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town

Quill Lane 1935

In 1935 production was transferred to Quill Lane, Putney, a little over a mile from ‘132 Putney’. Bill Rann had just left FH Grubb (in liquidation) and joined as foreman. ‘Bill had been an engineer with the railway. Then at FH Grubb Twickenham he had been foreman over 50-100 staff, he was a good foreman, a quiet man but firm’ (Bill Hurlow). Bill Rann designed the Tricycle Conversion Set pre March 1936. Initially racers wouldn’t use it because it increased the wheelbase, so Bill redesigned it in a way that shortened the wheelbase. In 1936 he also designed “La Quelda” 1936 La Quelda Ad (Cycling UK). Club cyclists viewed Holdsworth primarily as a clothing company and tended to underrate the frames. Out the back of 132 Putney two wheelbuilders produced for Quill Lane and for others, Jack Capeling was always one builder, but the other changed, one was called Margetson.

The 1936 ‘Aids to Happy Cycling’, which went to press Nov-Dec 1935 gives these addresses:

Quill Lane is not mentioned, probably to discourage callers, but the ‘Quill carrier’ which was named after Quill Lane is offered, so we know they had already opened there.

Tim Bryars says: “Owen had three daughters and one son (my father). His youngest daughter, Peggy, died c1936 aged 6, knocked down by a careless lorry driver, who was watching cricket on Barnes Common, just a few hundred yards from the shop. I’m told that the life went out of Owen when that happened”. Bill Hurlow was also hit by a truck outside the shop 1936-37, he says “I remember at the time all the talk was about the abdication of the King (that was on 11 Dec1936), but after the truck hit me I didn’t remember anything”.

Aids 1937 (printed late 1936) mentions Mr F Thacker now managing the Markhouse Rd, Walthamstow shop. A new shop at 69 Highbury Park, Highbury N5 (Near Arsenal F.C.) has appeared, managed by D.E.S. Kirby. Repairs are to be sent to the 132 Putney workshop.

Aids to Happy Cycling 1938 (printed late 1937) gives addresses:

• 121 Lennard Rd, Beckenham, Kent. (The house, post orders)
• 132 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney, London SW15 (Nr Putney Bridge) Mr J.O.Bryars
• 185 Markhouse Rd, Walthamstow E 17 (off Lea Bridge Rd) Mr Jimmy Eve (Closed during 1938)
•   69 Highbury Park Rd, Mr D.E.S. Kirby
• 575 Moseley Rd, Birmingham (Midland Depot) Mr I Furnival
•     2 Lullington Rd, Anerly SE20 (Workshops, a Putney workshop is also mentioned)

1938 Bill Hurlow (b May 1921), an ex. FHG employee (Grubb’s), joined Holdsworth at Quill Lane for a very short time, leaving to join Dee Cycles later that year. Mrs H still handled the garment side of the business from home, assisted by her employee and friend Janet Mantle (14)(later Sisley). “Sandy and Margaret were very straight-laced, they disliked bad language and drink, but nothing was too good for those they took to” (BH).

Quill Lane Fire 1938

Quill Lane had a self-employed enameller, Wally Ridgers. New models were launched at shows. Suppliers often provided special show materials, wheels, wood sprints, celluloid guards, Dunlop show tyres with gold lettering etc. A lot of show kit had been supplied to Quill Lane, for a forthcoming show, it was all stored upstairs, above Wallys oven. It is thought Wally forgot to turn something off. Owen Bryars came flying down the road on his bike, spotting Dick Clements (a packer working for Owen at 132) he called “Fire at Quill Lane”, but it was too late. (BH)

1939 The catalogue and ‘Aids’ 1939 (last for 10 yrs) give the addresses:

• 121 Lennard Rd, Beckenham, Kent.
• 132 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney, London SW15. Mr J Owen Bryars
•   69 Highbury Park, Highbury, N5. Mr D.E.S. Kirby
• 575 Moseley Rd, Balsall Heath, Birmingham 12. Mr I Furnivall
•     2 Lullington Rd, Anerly SE20 (Workshops, NO Putney workshop mentioned)
  And Agents throughout the Kingdom.

Between Nov 1938 or Mar 1939 there was a difference of opinion over policy, Owen Bryars left and opened a cycle shop opposite at 153 Lower Richmond Rd. I think John de Fritaes who owned Dee Cycles took care of 132, with his new employee Bill Hurlow, until Ted Hulme arrived as manager. One day Bill told John that he didn’t see his future in retail, soon after that John told him to report to Quill Lane, he was back with Holdsworth.

The birth of Holdsworthy in 1939

The business needed to expand and finance was forthcoming from another of Mrs Holdsworth’s brothers, Austin Bryars, whose main business was in clothing and textiles. Just before WW2 a new separate company was formed, The Holdsworthy Factoring Company Ltd, with directors W.F. Holdsworth, MA Holdsworth and Austin Bryars.

Janet Mantle‘s family helped get the new factory, the ex-banana works at Lullington Rd. (separate works and warehouse, both on Lullington Rd). W.F. Holdsworth cycles and frames were produced here, they also supplied British and imported cycle equipment. Worthy clothing was supplied throughout the country and this continued all through the war on a restricted basis, although ‘Aids To Happy Cycling’ 1939 was the last issue of this little catalogue for 10 years. Frank Sisley joined Holdsworth soon after the move to Lullington, where Pete Cobb was the foreman (Bill Rann had already left, I think he returned to Grubbs).

World War 2 (3 Sept 1939- 2 Sept 1945)

Petrol rationing, which was good for bike sales, started on 22 Sep 1939. However, Reynolds were instructed to cease cycle tube production, which was not good for bike sales. One by one, Holdsworth staff were called to other duties. Frames were made, but in reducing numbers to maybe 2 or 3 a week. Bill Hurlow left c Sep 1940 to join Claud Butler, Holdsworth had almost no framebuilders left, but he returned after a couple of months. Sandy told him “don’t make a habit of it”. Frank Sisley joined the Army, he and Janet Mantle married during the war. Arthur Eaves went to Purdey guns.

The second last framebuilder was called-up late in 1941, then Bill joined the Army on 5 Feb 1942, he married later that year. Bill was an Army armourer, and found the resources to hand-make stems for the shops to sell. Staff and steel shortages meant there would be no more significant frame production until war ended. During the blitz bombing most of the factory windows were blown, these were never replaced.

The Putney and Beckenham shops stayed open, Ted Hulme and his wife had moved north. Stan Butcher was installed as caretaker manager of 132 until the Hulmes returned after the war. “Stan was a 24 hour rider, he worked in the trade and had theatrical connections. He got a half day on a Thursday, when he would go to see Mrs H to see if she had any stock he could sell in the shop. He worked very hard, he drove an ambulance after work and attended a dance hall bombing where hundreds were killed” (BH)

Mrs H was from the ‘rag trade’ where it was normal to refer to people below managerial level by their surname. Janet and the girls were called by their forename. Apart from Bill, all the men were addressed by surname only. Stan arrived on a stock foray, Mrs H was searching for stuff to give him. Suddenly she called out “do you have any balls Butcher?”, Stan went a bit red, with Bill and others prompting him to reply, but Mrs H was oblivious. (BH)

Holdsworth’s shop at 5 Thesiger Rd, Penge was destroyed by bombing during WW2.

WW II ends 2 Sep 1945

After the war people were demobbed in batches, it took 6 months for some of the younger ones to be released. Charlie Roberts returned in spring or summer 1946. In June 1946 Bill Hurlow was considering his options and visited Holdsworth where production was well under way, he returned to Holdsworth in Oct 1946.

Arthur Eaves and John de Fritaes were installed as managers, with seats on the board, of the now Holdsworthy Company Limited, which continued to expand rapidly. Before the war John had his own shop, Dee Cycles at Hearne Hill, but it had been bombed. The Hulmes returned to manage 132 Putney for a while, until Ron Dodson took over.

War had ended but rationing continued, petrol rationing lasted until 26 May 1950. This increased demand for bikes although manufacturers found it difficult to get raw materials. Until about mid 1946 Aluminium Headbadges were used.

‘Aids To Happy Cycling’ re-appeared after a 10 year lapse, with a thin 1949 issue. “All your needs are known and appreciated, but whereas pre-war we could supply everything, from a tandem-trike to a top-nut, or from shoe-plates to shorts, certain items of clothing and accessories are now either in short supply or are completely barred “By Order”. But nowhere can you get such expert service, which has been built up on the basis of quality and value over the past 25 years”.

The 1949 (and 1950) frame/bike catalogues only offer 3 models, they could not meet demand. Besides cycles and frames, they became the main import/exporters of high quality components and sold bottles, pedals, hubs, headclips, bar tape etc own branded “Allez!“.

“The hand on the torch matters more than the name on the frame”

Bill says 1946-1950 were the good years. “At FHG and Claud Butler builders were paid a flat rate. Holdsworth paid piece rate, a fixed sum depending on the model, for each frame made. We had much better equipment than Grubb’s or CB and you knew the frame would be quality tested using the same tools you used. You signed your frame sheet, if it failed it’s inspection, or was returned within a year, you had to fix it without payment”. Bill was by now their top builder, twice as fast as some and never had a frame returned, so he earned a lot.

After a race Mr and Mrs H piled four passengers into the back seat of their car, plus a Welshman in the rear footwell. The Welshman said, and often repeated, that he “could murder a bloody pint”. Bill and others were kicking him subtly, he didn’t know Mr & Mrs H very well, but he just thought the kickers were uncomfortable and carried on regardless.

Sandy would cycle in sometimes to announce things, usually at closing time. He’d be at one end, but with people restless to get home you couldn’t hear him. Mrs H, like most of the Bryars family had a loud voice, her’s quite high. Clear as a bell you’d hear “stand by the drill dear, where they can hear you”.

The 1950’s

Tubes and Construction

Reynolds HM (High Manganese) tubing was used by Holdsworth through the 1930’s. When Reynolds 531 (mang-moly steel) appeared in 1935 it soon replaced HM on most models, but the pre-war La Quelda was steel welded and HM was better for this, welded 531 proved snappy. After WW2 the La Quelda was in 531, as it was now fillet brazed. Accles & Pollock Kromo (chrome-moly steel) appeared as an option on most Holdsworths in 1952, at the exact same price as 531. In 1953 the customer could also chose between welded construction (which means fillet brazed after WW2), or brazed (lugged) at extra cost.

Accles & Pollock (History) Kromo tubes were heavily promoted in the early 1950’s, but Accles soon withdrew from the bicycle market. Reynolds tubes and lugged construction became the norm.

In March 1953 Roy Thame (1921-2006) became manager of W.F. Holdsworth’s shop in Putney (a 53 year!! association in Mar 2006). “After service in the Royal Navy, I worked for Les Hitchcock in his cycle shop in Hemel Hempstead and it was here that I met Ron Dodson, who although manager of W.F. Holdsworth Putney shop, still did some travelling for the Holdsworthy Company. Early in 1953 Ron told me he was emigrating to New Zealand and suggested that I apply for the managers job at Putney….. I was an active member of the Hemel Hempstead Cycling Club, being club time-trial champion in 1952, but on moving to Putney joined as a first claim member of the Fulham Wheelers” (RT). I am sorry to report that Roy died in 2006 after a short illness.

Holdsworthy were main wholesalers for some major brands, along with their own house brands like “ Allez!” and “il Primo“. They became the sole UK importer of Campagnolo components for 1955.  For 1957, “Aids to Happy Cycling“ was renamed “Sandy Holdsworths Aids for 1957” and in 1958 it ceased to be free of charge, for 1959 and 1960 it became “Cyclists Aids” , then “Bike Riders Aids” until 1981.

Early 1956 Reg Collard joined Holdsworthy as the custom frame-builder at Lullington Rd.

“The factory operated a simple production line with about twelve builders each completing a stage of the build. The foreman was Charlie Roberts later to set up Roberts Cycles and to custom build for Roy Thame. There was no powered machinery other than a grindstone, everything was done by hand. One chap hand cut all the lugs for the most expensive models while another built forks, one brazed heads, another brazed bottom brackets, another brazed seat stays & fitted various bits e.g. gear bosses, brake eyes etc. An apprentice cut & mitred tubes to length on a hand press”.

“Frames were then sandblasted before being filed & finished ready for painting. The amount of filing was dependent on the model; the most expensive having all the lugs chamfered, around half a day’s work. Normally a dozen frames of the same model/size would be completed as a batch. The exception to this rule was custom builds where one person completed everything except lug cutting and final filing. I was the custom builder. I was paid £10-00 per week plus 7s/6d per frame. On average I could complete around eight frames a week”.

“Factory conditions were very basic most of the windows did not have any glass in them after the war. We used to have all the big brazing torches going full blast during the winter to keep warm, imagine around two feet of flame coming out of a torch, dangerous or what? In the summer it was like working in an oven!”. (RC)

“There was some sort of a bust up and several of us including Charlie Roberts left the company in 1957” (RC). Charlie Roberts (snr) was back working at Holdsworthy in the late 60’s.

In July 1956 president Nasser nationalised the Suez canal, hitting fuel supplies to UK and British industry. Claud Butler, already in financial straits, succumbed in Oct 1956. Petrol rationing was introduced in Jan 1957 and by the time it was lifted, 14 May 1957, much of British industry, including Holdsworth, was (and remained) on a 4 day week. Adam Hill’s deal to buy the Claud Butler and Saxon marques fell through. In July 1958 the Holdsworth Co Ltd, Lullington Rd, Anerly, London SE20 bought three registered Claud Butler trade marks.(Colin Matthews):

• No. 654268 ‘CB and link design Headbadge’
• No. 579689 ‘CB monogram and device’
• No. 612055 ‘Claud Butler signature’

This  was a very good move. The Claud Butler brand was highly respected, sales increased dramatically. The factory now on a full working week struggled to keep pace with demand. Initially, a Holdsworth model and its CB equivalent were virtually identical.

1958: 132 Putney takes over production of all Special Builds

“The Holdsworthy Company had now progressed to the stage where they produced a set range of cycle frames and were no longer prepared to build to individual requirements. The two shops were being asked for ‘specials’ and so the Holdsworthy Company allocated them a block of frame numbers and Reg Collard, an ex Holdsworthy frame builder, was recruited and started building Holdsworth frames to order, in a small workshop on the premises of 132 Lower Richmond Rd Putney. The designs were based on the Italian Colnago frames and were of very high standard” (RT).

“When Roy Thame approached me to set up a custom build workshop at 132, I jumped at the opportunity. We had to get all the jigs etc. built by a local toolmaker. With these and cylinders of oxyacetylene and oxygen, we were in business. We already had a long list of orders. Soon after the first frame was completed we had a visit from Sandy and Mrs H. Great excitement! Orders came flooding and very soon there was around three months waiting list for a new frame. I was building mainly road frames plus track frames, which doubled up as time trial bikes, most people raced TTs. on fixed wheel until the mid sixties. We also produced a limited number of touring frames, with brazed on fittings for custom-built carriers and various other accessories”. (RC)

Roy Thame retired from competitive cycling in 1958 due to pressure of work, but was active on the administrative side. He was on two BCF committees (Finance and Management, and West London Div.). He was commissaire and took charge of the Tour of the West, was chief commissaire in the Milk Race for two years. He was team mechanic to the British teams and also became British Team Manager and BCF W. London Div. Coach. (RT).

18 Oct 1958 Owen Bryars died aged 56, his second wife Nan (nee Nancy Hentsch) continued the business at 153 Lower Richmond Rd, managed by Owens son Ron. The shop was bought by W.F. Holdsworth in 1959, and Ron continued to manage it until 1960. W.F. Holdsworth sold ‘bread and butter’ bikes and later BMX’s from there, 132 L. Richmond Rd being the lightweight bike shop.

The 1960’s

The shops split further away

Mrs Holdsworth died on 24 Jan 1964. In her Will Mrs H. left the retail part of the business (W.F. Holdsworth Ltd) to her shop managers, two thirds to Roy Thame and one third to Lou Smith, while her shares in Holdsworthy Co. Ltd stayed in the Bryars family. Thus the businesses split, almost immediately after Mrs H’s death. “We had started producing some frames prior to Mrs H’s death as the plan was to split and form a separate company, but she died before that could be instigated” (RT).

The wholesaling side, which included the factory, was called “The Holdsworthy Company Limited”. Mrs H’s shares were left to certain relatives, and these in due course were purchased by David Bryars, who had taken over the interest on the death of his father Austin, he ultimately became the sole shareholder.

The retail side was incorporated on 18 Dec 1964 as  W.F. Holdsworth Ltd, registered office 132 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney, with Roy Thame as Chairman/MD, wife Alma, Lou Smith and his wife Ann (CO Sec.) as directors and shareholders. The business consisted of the leasehold of both Putney shops and 138/140 Beckenham Rd, Kent. These were on a long lease from Mrs Holdsworth’s executor (her brother-in-law Mr Welch) (RT).

The shop started its own frame numbering system in 1965. The first pro, Bob Addy, was signed by W.F.Holdsworth in 1966 and did well, Roger Newton joined him early in 1968. Holdsworthy agreed to help sponsor a larger team and other riders were signed late in 1968. The Holdsworth-Campagnolo Pro Team was ready for the 1969 season, with Roy Thame as team director. They soon became the top UK squad (see pro- team page).

MACLEAN closed on 11 Nov 1962. Holdsworthy bought the name, but perhaps later.  A ‘Holdsworthy’ MacLean catalogue first appears on the rear cover of ‘AIDS’ issued Easter 1965. Dick Brodrick joined the 132 shop in 1967, he recalls they were plain gauge tubing, nearly always black, with gold lug-lining and lettering. They sold few and those were mostly to locals. MacLeans are last mentioned on the back cover of ‘Aids’ issued Easter 1975.

Charlie Bruce worked at Lullington Rd from 1967-1971, working with Frank and Janet Sisley and Alan Bridges (who joined the Holds-Campag Pro team). Bruce Biddle (1970 Commonwealth Games Road Gold) worked at Lullington too.

c1969 a warehouse fire nearly destroyed the whole business. “The factories were very old. The Frame Shop and Warehouse were an old banana warehouse that ran along the back of the houses. The smaller factory down the road was the Paint and Assembly Shop and also the Office that controlled the orders. The whole area was later redeveloped and Lullington road does not exist as it was in those days”. (Charlie Bruce)

The 1970’s

In 1973 these were their three shops in the London area. Soon there were five shops, the business of Alec Bird Cycles at 69 High St, Welling, Kent was purchased and became W.F. Holdsworth, also the Ken Ryall shop in Stains Rd, Hounslow, Middlesex. Ken Ryall was the sole importer of Raxar clothing which made a good addition to the various other goods imported by W.F. Holdsworth. About 1975 the Penge shop moved again, this time to 55 High Street, Penge. where they traded for c10 years.

These pics can be dated by content to April-July 1974

In the 1960’s and 70’s a large number of Holdsworths were sold in the USA (a bike boom started c1972). Hill Cycles, Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, imported Holdsworths directly and sold them either as Holdsworths or privately labelled, the shop closed, probably in 1993.

1975 The Shop stops making ‘Holdsworth’ frames

More Shop Photos

Factory-only Holdsworths

1986 – THE “MARLBORO” HOLDSWORTH

Falcon Take-Over