It is unclear exactly when Claud started making bicycles. Some say it was in 1927 from his garden shed, but Claud was involved in the cycle trade and cycle racing before 1927. We do know that Claud opened his first shop, in Battersea London, in 1928 and calls 1953 his Silver Jubilee Year (cf 1953 Catalogue cover).
In 1930 one new model was the "East Hill" no doubt named after his address at 101 East Hill, Wandsworth SW18.
In 1932 he opened his head office at Herndon Rd, London, SW18 and Bill Gray joined the company. The All-Rounder "HM", Ultra Lite "HM", Super Club "HM", Supreme "HM", East Hill, EHC Track "HM" & Super Brampton Tandem were available in June 1932, and many other models to suit all riders, from 101 East Hill, Wandsworth. Delivery is 10-14 days.
"Claud Butler Cycles & Tandems were used in the Olympic games which were held in America in 1932, and also used in the World Championships at Copenhagen 1931, Italy 1932, France 1933, Germany 1934 & Belgium 1935". (source 1936 Catalogue)
| The 1934 Catalogue This advert dated 9 Nov 1934 mentions another shop, at 34 Lee High Rd, Lewisham. |  |
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| The 1935 Catalogue In 1935 one tandem offered was the Super-Fast Tourer HM model and the Arrow Ace was launched | ||
Claud was soon a main cycle trade figure and had 5 branches, 4 in London, by Dec 1935.
Head Office & Works were now at Manor St, Clapham, London, SW4
101 East Hill, Wandsworth SW18 (SW London)
34 & 34a Lee High Rd, Lewisham, SE13 (SE London)
71 Grand Parade, Harringay N4 (N London)
241 High Street North, East Ham, E6 (E London)
Midlands Depot: 18 Greyfriar Gate, Nottingham
| Claud was very creative in his marketing, very much selling himself to sell his bicycles. He recognised the camaraderie between all cyclists and promoted a special camaraderie among Claud Butler owners. He even sold little Claud Butler lapel badges, so they could recognise each other when off their bikes and dubbed the males "CB Cads". He adopted a little cartoon caricature of himself. |  |
The 1936 range would have been showcased at Olympia in Dec 1935. Claud had Stand 26 with "CB Cads" Toni Merkens, Denis Horn & Ernie Chambers present. The Anglo Continental was hailed as "an entirely new design"
| The 1936 Catalogue "...each machine being built entirely to the customers own specification". "CB machines are built of an improved High Manganese steel ...made in special CB gauges by the Reynolds Tube Company of Birmingham...it is a butted steel tubing... The 1936 Reynolds '531' tubing may be specified if desired or A&P Chrome Molybdenum. Frames built of Super Taper Tubes are an Extra 5/-. | |
Cycles
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framesets must be ordered from CB direct
Tricycles
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| The EHC International Path & DSH Championship Path models were named after Ernie H. Chambers & Denis Sutton Horn respectively. Their full names could not be used due to their amateur status. Ernie became active in track racing in 1924, by 1936 he had worked for CB for many years & supervised every Path Model during construction. He had ridden in World Championships and twice in the Olympics. By April 1938 he had left Claud and traded from 105 London Rd, Mitcham, Surrey. He offered the Olympic Path, Club & Continental models from his own catalogue. | |
| During 1936 Claud patented the "Ultra-Shortbase" tandem (patent no 464,959), where the stoker's seat tube is curved to allow the rear wheel to come further forward. This design increases the weight carried by the rear wheel, the drive wheel, increasing the rear tyre's traction. This reduces the risk of wheel slip, particularly valuable when climbing in the wet with riders out of the saddle. |  |
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| In Jan 1937 they advertised the launch of the Tourist Anglais & a New Ultra-Lite model. The 1937 catalogue was available early Feb 37. It offered the New Continental Club & Tour D'Angleterre models, The Silver Arrow, Super-Club (Shortbase) Tandem & Ultra Shortbase Tandem were also offered in Feb 1937, as was a Polobike, Pace-Follower, Tricycle, Triplet and Unicycle. Delivery was 21-28 Days. |
| Late in 1937 Claud made his first prototype filet brazed (aka Low - Temperature Bronze Welded) lugless frame. Claud is considered one of the two UK pioneers of lugless filet brazing, the other being Harry Rensch, post-war to form 'Paris Cycles'. The late 1937 catalogue (1938 range) offered 22 models covering racing, touring, tandems and trikes. |  |
| The 1938 Catalogue More filet brazed frames were made through 1938 and displayed at some of Claud's London shops. In November 1938 Claud's first filet brazed model, the Mass Start was exhibited at the Earl's Court Show, for the 1939 range. Other new models for 1939 were the Super Arrow, the Tourist de Luxe and the very high spec Hyperlight Tourer, weighing under 21.5 lb. |  |
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| After March 1939 Catalogue |
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| 1940 Abridged Catalogue |
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| 1940 War Sports/Tourist Catalogue |
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Claud acquired the Saxon marque, in 1939 or early 1940's. He employed and trained many who later started-up on their own, like Les Ephgrave, Fred Dean, Bill Hurlow, George Stratton and Bill Philbrook. He employed Reg Harris as an export salesman, when he was going for the Amateur Championship of the World. Reg won his first World Championship on a Claud. Eileen Sheridan's first racing bike was a second hand CB Continental Club model 1945.
Bill Hurlow joined CB at Manor Street late in Sept 1940, but only stayed for a couple of months. "Works Manager was Fred Pratt (married to Claud's sister). Among those working on frames (ie not war work): Stuart Purves, Les Ephgrave, his twin brother Lou and WBH". (Bill Hurlow)
| 1941 War Sports/Tourist
Catalogue With the records set in 1940 by Miss Marguerite Wilson on her Claud |
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| 1942 Abridged Catalogue (Lightweights) | Assumed 1943 to 45 | 1947 Avant |
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| "In 1943 a company was formed to operate retail shops" (Colin Matthews). |
In the 1930's through 1950's there were two UK makers of high quality bike tubes, Reynolds (mang-moly steel) and Accles & Pollock (chrome-moly). Top quality builders could use either. Claud Butler offered the option of Accles & Pollock "Kromo" steel in the 1950's at least. Accles & Pollock later withdrew from this market.
Claud had been bi-laminating frames for years, an Aug 1940 partial bi-lam is known, but he had not then coined or patented the term bi-lamination. Cycling 8 Oct 1947 refers to the newly formed Company of Claud Butler Ltd. After a 3 month test (by Cycling's 'Nimrod') of a prototype, the Avant Coureur (French for 'forerunner') was featured & advertised in Cycling 8 Oct 1947, the first new model from the new company and the first Claud sold as a bi-laminate. This very first version of the Avant Coureur had bilams which did not look like lugs, they had the axe-head cut but were only extended down the one tube (cf Sport Anglais). It also had the 'colonial' style push in headset races, but perhaps as an option. By Oct 47 this model had already been modified, with respect to Nimrods prototype, by the addition of a brazed on support to the seat tube for more strength. This first bilam design for the Avant Coureur continued until at least August 1948.
| 1948 Catalogue |
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| This brochure will have been produced late in 1947, perhaps before Cycling of Oct 1947 went to press, because the Avant Coureur is not mentioned. The Internetional Club text says the re-introduction of welding, by which they mean filet brazing, saves 340g over a brazed up (lugged) bicycle. It was difficult to get lugs at this time. There was rationing and so production material shortages. Claud, Holdsworth and others made their own two plate fork crowns as they had difficulty sourcing crowns. |
This late 1940's catalogue, with 14 pages, offered 16 models, but of course WW2 had just ended. |
Improved bi-lam sleeves for 1949 were used on the Avant Coureur and Olympic Path framesets. The initial bilam arrangement of the Avant Coureur carried on as the Sport Anglais. It has often been said that the Avant Coureur was a new model launched late in 1948. This is a misunderstanding. The 'New Avant Coureur' launched late in 1948 was simply a new version of the Avant Coureur model, it got full axe head bi-lams. These full "axe head" sleeves were later adopted on the Allrounder model, which was a simple lugless frame in 1949. The Avant Coureur adopted yet another sleeve design later. |
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Sport Anglais bi-lamination |
1949 Catalogue
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This July 1949 "Sport Anglais" frameset, unearthed by restorer Peter Brown, has a bi-laminate sleeve layout which extend over the main tubes only. In 1949 only the Sport Anglais models 4 & 5 and the De Luxe Tourer model 3, Mk 3 (which used the Sport Anglais frameset) had this arrangement. |
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| Note the CB 'Continental' ends and the 'Olympic' headbadge.
Some 1949 models get a metal badge, others get a head decal. Click pics to enlarge. |
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1950 the Avant Coureur and Allrounder were offered (both bi-laminate construction). The Earls Court Cycle Show, early Nov 1950 showcased the 12 basic models of the 1951 range. One was a filet brazed tandem and 11 'singles'. Of the singles 4 were bi-lams, 4 were lugless, 3 were lugged.
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1951 Catalogue Models as below |
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1951 (rev 1 Mar) Catalogue
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1952 Catalogue
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| 1953 the Jubilee was offered, launched to celebrate Clauds 25th year since opening his first shop. It is a 531 plain gauge tourer. The Jubilee 6 has a double chainset and Benelux gears. The Jubilee Special & Valiant T59 were offered, sometime 1953-55. The Valiant T.59B was advertised in 1955. |
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| 1953 Catalogue | Frameset | Cycles |
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single or 3 Spd single or 3 Spd single or 3 Spd single or 3 Spd single or 3 Spd single or 3 Spd to cust. spec £30.07.9 £43.05.2 £45.06.6 single or 3Spd single or 3Spd single or 3Spd |
| 1954 Catalogue | Frameset | Cycles |
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single or 3 Spd single or 3 Spd single or 3 Spd single or 3 Spd 10 Spd single or 3 Spd to cust. spec £28.19.8 £41.04.3 £43.03.8 single or 3Spd single or 3Spd single or 3Spd |
| 1955 Catalogue | Frameset | Cycles |
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3 Spd 4, 6, 8 & 10 Spd 4, 6, 8 & 10 Spd 4 Spd 4 Spd 5 or 10 Spd 4 Spd £48. 2.4 £22.16.1 £38.11.5 £28.17.6 £13.19.6 |
| Nov 1955 (56) Catalogue | Frameset | Cycles |
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3,4,8 & 10 Spd 3,4,8 & 10 Spd 4,5,8 & 10 Spd 4 Spd 10 Spd 4 Spd 4 Spd 4Spd 3Spd 3Spd |
The end of the Original Claud Butler
Although Petrol rationing had ended on 26 May 1950 the petrol was low quality. The improvement in quality, after the opening of the huge new refineries in Cheshire and at Fawley, Southampton (official opening 14 Sep 1951), seriously hit bicycle sales. Bill Hurlow says things were so slow at Holdsworth at the end of 1951 that they used to wait for the mail to be opened to see if they had any frames to build that day. The situation re-stabilised, but in July 1956 president Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez canal, hitting fuel supplies to the UK and all British industry. This time, the petrol shortage was bad for bike sales. Despite the fact that Claud Butler cycles were held in very high regard, the company, already in financial straits, went into receivership in Oct 1956. Clauds drinking will not have helped.
"...in 1956 he owed in excess of £15000 to Customs & Excise for Purchase Tax, which he was unable to pay, and in October of that year the receivers were called in. The senior official receiver WF Creswell put the debts at around £70,000 with assetts only amounting to £12,000 to £13,000". (Colin Matthews)
Adam Hill (Clarion Cycle Works, Padiham) of Hill and Hill Special fame, heard of Clauds plight and went to London late in 1956 to negotiate the purchase of the Claud Butler and Saxon names. However, petrol rationing was introduced in Dec 1956, much of British industry (including Holdsworth) was reduced to a four day week. During the long process Hill Cycles ran into financial difficulties and the deal, with terms agreed, was never finalised.
Chartered Accountant KR Corke of London had been appointed as trustee and on 11 Mar 1957 Clauds machinery and plant were sold by auction from Clapham Manor St. The auctioneer was Edward Symmons & Partners of 4 Albany Courtyard, Piccadilly W1. The tools and goodwill were sold to Adam Hill. (Colin Matthews)
Petrol rationing ended on 14 May 1957, but the 4 day week continued and Hill Cycles ran into difficulties.
"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, back on a five day week, they struggled to keep pace with demand. People particularly valued the Claud Butler name on a bike, even non cyclists thought a Claud Butler was something extra special.
Claud's attempts to re-start
Clauds first restart attempt was assisted by Evelyn Hamilton, with whom there were rumours of a long term affair. Evelyn had a bike shop in Streatham, S. London and had sold her own badged frames into the early 1950s. The new Claud's bore a script Hamilton Butler Down Tube decal, but the name Claud Butler appeared on the Headtube decal. This lead to problems with Holdsworth who had bought the Claud Butler name. Claud also had poor credit worthiness, so this endeavour failed quickly.
Claud announced his re-start as "The New Claud" in March 1960 although there is evidence he had re-started in Aug 1959. His Raleigh dealership listed in Spring 1960 says CLAUD BUTLER Ltd. 34 St. John's Hill, Clapham Junction, London SW11.
There were three framesets produced personally by Claud, the Paris-Roubaix, XV111 Olympiad and the Regency-Continental. All were supplied with alloy seatpin and carried "The New Claud", "Claud Butler London England", and laurel wreath with Olympic rings transfers. Adverts for these "CB Himself Frames" are in early 1960 editions of Cycling.
Pride & Clarke 158 Stockwell Road, London, S.W.9 had the exclusive agency for these frames, but the venture was very short lived due to the legalities of who owned the name. Claud was adamant that he could use it because the receivers only sold three registered Claud Butler trade marks (as above) to Holdsworthy. Claud used block lettering because they had bought the Claud Butler signature.
It seems he was wrong. Holdsworth soon started using the CB block lettering
on some models and in 1963 a new model, the Velo Capital had a new D/T
decal "Claud Butler London England". This decal was used on
a 1964 and 1965 model, then dropped.
In 1968 he tried to make a comeback with Keith Mernickle, trading as C&K Cycles (Claud & Keith), but his health was failing, the venture didn't last long and few were ever produced.
After a long illness Claud Butler died on 2 Nov 1978, in a London hospital.
Claud Butler (by Holdsworth)
The Holdsworth Company Ltd bought 3 registered Claud Butler trade marks in July 1958.
1959 Catalogue
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Clauds by Holdsworth sold well. The top-end Claud Butlers were usually
Holdsworth clones, just in another colour scheme and badged differently,
perhaps with a cheaper headset. For example, when the new top of the range
Holdsworth Mistral was launched for 1963, so was it's clone, the Claud
Butler Torino. However the Claud range was extended downwards to include
many budget, plain gauge tubed, models. The CB marque was thus subordinated
to the Holdsworth marque, though the ranges still overlaped.
For a cyclist to be able to buy a brand new Claud Butler at these prices
would be irresistable. According to my calculations, most of Holdsworthy
output after 1958 was badged Claud Butler not Holdsworth, current evidence
suggests a 3:1 ratio right through the 60's and 70's.
1960 Catalogue
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1961
the Coureur 5 spd cycle, using Nervex lugs, was offered
in six colour combinations, with either Benelux Mk 7 gear or Campag Gransport.
1961 Catalogue
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1962 Catalogue
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During 1962 Holdsworthy went all Continental and started to import French Prugnat lugs which appear in the 1963 range (presumably launched at Olympia, Nov 1962). The Grubb range followed suit in 1964, even to the extent of a new Grubb headbadge, with the Italian and chequered flags crossed.
The Torino frameset is the Claud Butler version of Holdsworth's "top of the range" Mistral. It has 531 butted tubes, spearpoint (Prugnat "I" type) lugs with fully wrapover 5/8 inch seatstays, Campag ends and TDC Italia headset, in a choice of finishes at £13-19-6d. The Velo Capital is a new model, sporting a new seat-crest decal incorporating Olympic rings and a new "Claud Butler of London" down tube decal.
1963 Catalogue
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1964 The Coureur is club entry level with Benelux P2 derailleur, the Mk 1 has GB Sport side pulls while the Mk2 gets GB 66 or Weinman 999 centre-pulls. The Super Coureur has a Campag Gran Sport derailleur (generally, when Holdsworthy add 'Super' to a Claud name it denotes a higher quality derailleur). The Velo Capital has a Campag Sportsman derailleur and only available in a copper lustre finish with contrasts. The European series is 72 deg parallel in any colour to choice. It has a good spec. Campy (Gran Sport) gears and hubs, Fiamme HP's, Mafac brakes, a Brooks saddle and is available in 5 or 10 speed.
1964 Catalogue
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1965 The new Super European model has Campy Record gears, Williams LC 1200 chainset, Fiamme sprints with Canetti "Super Strada" tubs. 5 speed and 10 spd.
1965 Catalogue
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1966 Catalogue Spectra and Electron are new models.
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1967 Catalogue The Velo Valentino is replaced by the Sapphire, a model which only ran for the one year. A road version of the Olympic frameset appears and the Cordon Bleu gets Campy ends as an optional extra.
Framesets:
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In 1968 the Corridore was launched in 531 tubing throughout. It used the Campag "Valentino Extra" derailleur, which was just out that year.
| 1968 Catalogue | frameset | cycle 5spd | 10spd |
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1969 The Tipo Strada was launched.
| 1969 Catalogue | 1970 Catalogue |
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1971 The Velox '71' tourer was launched, in 531 plain gauge tubing and featuring the new Campagnolo Velox derailleur. The Torino and Super Torino are clones of the Holdsworth Mistral and Super Mistral.
| 1971 Catalogue | 1972 Catalogue |
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| Late 1976 or early 1977 Catalogue |
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| Only the Velox remains from the mid 1976 range. The Cresta, Competitor & Colstar will have been launched some time after July 1976. The Colstar ('Holdsworth Special' racer clone) replaces the Torino ('Holdsworth Mistral' tourer clone) at the top of the range. The Cavalier was re-introduced later in 76 or early 77. It had a very short run and appears to be a Holdsworth Equipe, but with a straight brake bridge. |
| Late 1977 Catalogue |
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| The Majestic and Jubilee will have been launched earlier in 1977, to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee. The Jubilee day was 6 Feb 1977 but celebrations ran right through June at least. The Speedway has track ends with eyelets and Reynolds 531 straight forks. The rest have 531 plain gauge tubes & 531 butted fork blades, bar the Colstar which is 531 butted throughout. In two years the Claud Butler range has completely changed. |
1979 the Majestic 10spd was offered at £170. The Olympic offered too.
1980 the Cresta 10sp was offered at £144 July and £149.50 Oct. The Majestic 10spd was £185 in July, £190 in Oct.
The 1981 range, frameset alone in blue : 1981 Catalogue
| Claud Butler | Holdsworth equivalent | ||
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| Cresta 5 speed | £149.50 £69.50 | Mystique 5 spd | £149.50 |
| or 10 speed | £159.50 | 10 spd | £159.50 |
| Claudette (Ladies) 5 speed | £156.95 | ||
| Coureur | £184.95 | ||
| Majestic, Majestique(Ladies) | £194.95 | ||
| Cassino (frame only) | £84.50 | ||
| Sovereign & Sovereign Lady | £249 | ||
| Italia | £249 £94.50 | Elan | £249 £94.50 |
| Colstar | £395 £125 | Special | £395 £125 |
| Click on picture for full spec. of 1981 models and framesets. In this year the Cresta & Claudette do no appear to get 531 tubing. Next year they do. |
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Claud Butler - Quality Tourers
1982 the Claud Butler range becomes a range of Reynolds 531 tourers. The Dalesman and Ladydale were launched. These were the new CB versions of the Holdsworth Mistral and Ladies Mistral, see publicity document from the period.
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1982 Catalogue
Touring Models only.
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1983 The Dalesman "was voted 'Bicycle of The Year' in the 1983 International Cycling Guide" (Jan 1984 catalogue).
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1984 Catalogue
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1985 Catalogue
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Late 1985, Marlboro bought over Holdsworth, and therefore the Claud Butler name. The Claud Butler Corsa (budget model) was launched in 1986 to mark the occasion.
1986 Catalogue
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1987 Catalogue
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Falcon - Claud Butlers
Falcon Cycles Ltd (an Elswick PLC Company) bought the Holdsworth and Claud Butler names in Feb 1987 (see David Cross's letter to Sheldon) and the brands were volume produced. The Holdsworth and Claud Butler names were reserved for their higher quality cycles (£400+), the Claud Butler name was used for "tourers" (neglecting the MTB side of things). Casket PLC (Townsend) bought the bicycle part of the business in Dec 1991.
The range, taken from the Falcon Apr 1991 and APR 1992 order forms, was:
| Year | Model | Colours | Frame Sizes |
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| 1991 | Classic 330 | Midnight Blue | 21.5", 23", 24.5" |
| Classic 331 (Ladies?) | Midnight Blue | 19", 21" | |
| Regent 332 | Cathedral Burgundy | 21.5", 23", 24.5" | |
| Dalesman 333 | Antique Bronze | 21.5", 23", 24.5" | |
| 1992 | Classic 635 12spd | Pearlescent Plum | 21", 23", 24" |
| Classic 636 12sp (Ladies) | Pearlescent Plum | 21" | |
| Regent 637 21spd | Burgundy | 21", 23", 24" | |
| Dalesman 638 21spd | Racing Green | 21", 23", 24" |