Thanks to all contributors, especially Dick Brodrick, Peter Duncan, Bill Hurlow, Terry Savage & Nigel Land.
Frederick Henry Grubb (b 27 May 1887) showed such riding ability that one writer in 1910 wrote “Since August Bank Holiday he has been the most talked-of cyclist in Great Britain…and it is safe to say that no man since Harry Green has shown more brilliant promise”. A vegetarian since 1907, he was a member of the Vegetarian Cycle & Athletic Club. A clubmate Peter Duncan says “Nobody called him Freddie, that came later, it was always Fred” (Bill Hurlow confirms this). This pic is 1907-1913 after a record attempt. He has no brakes, traffic was so light he saw no need for them. The pavement looks smoother than the road. In 1910 he did an unpaced, out & home competition 100 mile tt in under 5 hrs, dressed like this on such a bike.
In 1911 he set a new 12 hr record “…what a ride that was! the Anerley course in those days ran out at 210.25 miles and some hurried improvisations were necessary to provide 220.5 miles for Grubb and 215.5 for CF Davey”. Fred held the record for a 24 hr Closed Circuit Road Time Trial (Peter Duncan says it was a Track Time Trial) at c564 km (351 miles). This record was broken by Henrik Morén in 1912 with 604 350m (375.6 miles).
Fred’s London to Brighton & back (104.75 miles) record too was a magnificent effort. In 1912 the Brighton Rd was in very poor condition, and the record to be beaten was one of Green’s, but Grubb succeeded, and his 5h 9m 41 (which contains another 100 inside evens) stood for 14 years.
Fred won two silver medals in the Stockholm Olympics of 1912. In the Team Road Race and the Individual Road Race. Fred turned Pro circa Sept 1912.
“F. H. Grubb [has] returned his amateur licence to the National Cyclists’ Union. He has decided to make cycle racing and record breaking both on road and path a profession… Next year he will take part in all the big Continental road races, and will also participate in paced races on the track. Grubb, who has been a strict vegetarian for five years, is a non-smoker and total abstainer, and should prove a very worthy British representative abroad. He is 25 years of age, and scales 12st stripped, and when he gets accustomed to the Continental methods there is no reason he should not shine as a star of the very first order in the professional ranks”. {Cycling 3 Oct 1912 p290}
In a private 100 ml trial on the Bath Road in 1913, he did 4h 43m 33s (Ave 21.16 mph). He raced on the continent for a short while, but found the racing there too dirty. He told Peter “They would stick an inflator in your spokes as quick as look at you”, so he returned to England. Now as an ex pro he was disqualified from entering most events, it was the end of his competitive cycling.
FH Grubb
Fred established his cycle business: F.H. Grubb (est. 1914), of Brixton, London SW9. It appears his clubmate Charley Davey helped finance the venture. The first frames may have been built at Brixton, but WW I soon intervened (4 Aug 1914 – 11 Nov 1918).
“During WW1 Fred worked in a London munitions factory, he had long working hours and cycled to and from work every day, it was all bed and work. He wanted to get into the Navy for an easier life, but his ‘reserved occupation’ status was a problem. Eventually he managed, but navy catering meant when he returned he was no longer vegetarian. He was made an honorary club member” (Peter Duncan).
| 1927-28 Catalogue: | Cycles:Carrier Cycle (delivery bike)Lady’s SportsLight RoadsterSpeed ModelClub ModelPath Racing ModelAlso offered are Framesets & the Grubb Home Trainer. The Grubb System of Grease-Gun lube is advertised. All frames get a decal applied to head and seat tube |
| Racing TricycleCarrier Tricycle (delivery bike)Tandems: Race TandemCross-FrameSpecial Tandem |
Just after Easter 1929 Eric Tweedale and Ted Rigby of the Manchester C.T.C. General Section, owners of one of the first Grubb tandems in the district, attacked the Club tandem “50” record in a private trial on the Broken Cross course. Private trials, according to club rule, had to be run on authenticated courses, properly marshalled, and timed by an official club timekeeper, so it was by a good ride that their 2-4-54 displaced Wood and Brewer’s 2-5-53. “1929 has been a phenomenal year for Grubb Bicycles and Tandems. The output has been actually doubled on the previous year”
| 1930 Catalogue: | Cycles:TwickenhamLady’s TwickenhamLady’s SportsLight RoadsterDe Luxe RoadsterSpeed ModelSpecial TouringPath Racing Model |
| Racing TricycleTandems: Race TandemCross-FrameSpecial Tandem |
| In Oct 1930 77 London Rd, Leicester is mentioned. They advertise the “FAMOUS TWICKENHAM MODEL” for £8 complete, a one gear tourer. | Apr 1930 | Oct 1930 | Dec 1930 |
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| 1931 Catalogue: | Cycles:TwickenhamLady’s TwickenhamSuper TwickenhamRichmondSpeed ModelLight RoadsterDe Luxe RoadsterSpecial TouringPath Racing Model | Special Touring |
| Racing TricycleTandems:Race TandemCross-Frame |
| The Grubb London was launched between 1931-1933. Soon after this FH Grubb of Twickenham became FH Grubb Ltd of Twickenham. | Cover | page 2 | page 3 |
Glasgow Museum of Transport has this welded Grubb ‘Kingston’ recumbent. The design for this new model was advertised on 10th August 1934, with the recumbent itself first advertised for sale on 24 Aug 1934 as the first English recumbent.
The museum says: “Recumbents first appeared in the 1930’s as bicycle makers tried to make a fast but stable bicycle. The horizontal design is more stretched to reduce wind resistance and allow the rider to use back and leg muscles”.
“The Grubb machine was bought new in 1934 for £14-14s . It was made by F.H. Grubb Ltd of Brixton, London and owned by Mr RC Smith who used it for racing at Rothesay, Scotland”.
“Donated by G Smith 1991- Grubb Kingston model”
This Kingston was re-enamelled in the 1960’s by Rattray’s (Glasgow). It now bears modern “Freddie Grubb” down tube decals but the seat decal is FH Grubb. There are no headbadge holes, an identical seat tube decal has been used as a head decal. Bill Hurlow says very few Grubbs were welded, but a recumbent would have to be as you couldn’t get suitable lugs.
It is thought FH Grubb unwisely diversified into making the new, trendy, tubular metal furniture. An advert for FH Grubb Ltd in ‘Cycling’ 9 Nov 1934 mentions ‘in voluntary liquidation‘.
Frame numbers were a simple serial number, with no embedded codes. Up to the close of Twickenham they ran from (presumably) frame ‘1’ c1920 to frame ‘16000’+ c. early 1935. The highest number I know of from this period is Grubb London 15955, ordered 31 Aug 1934 which once belonged to Terry Savage, the VCC ME (Grubb).
FHG Ltd
The day after Twickenham closed, not later than April 1935, Fred opened FHG Ltd, at 147a Haydons Rd, Wimbledon, London, S.W.19 with c20 staff remaining from c50 at Twickenham (Bill Hurlow). Bill Rann had already left to join Holdsworth. They restarted the serial number system, presumably from 1, 2, 3 etc
1935 FHG Ltd Temporary List of Cycles. (This is 1935, despite 1937 being written on it) All models bar the Special Tourer are lower priced than in 1937. The “London Streak” and “Path” models are less than in 1936. Only the “Special Tourer” is more than in 1937, but in 1937 it could be bought as frameset only. You will notice the use of ‘FHG’ throughout the Temporary List of Cycles, which underlines to his creditors that he is a completely new business, so it is 1935. All models in the 1936 and 1937 catalogues get the name Grubb inserted, so ‘the Special Tourer’ of 1935 becomes ‘the Grubb Special Tourer’ from 1936.
The 1936 catalogue mentions “the new Wimbledon Works” at 147a Haydons Rd, showrooms at 130 Haydons Rd, SW19, opposite the works and a shop at 31 Robsart St, Brixton, SW9 all in London, Alice (‘Mrs Grubb’) ran the shop. You will notice the ‘FHG Path‘ model of early 1935 has become ‘the Grubb Path‘ model etc. It appears that having shaken off his old FH Grubb Ltd creditors he wants to return, as far as he dares, to the established FH Grubb marque.
Over 16,000 Grubbs have already been made and many of Fred’s staff (16 in the pic) have ‘served for’ 12 years. Frames are available in Accles & Pollock chrome-molybdenum or Reynolds High Manganese tubing. (Reynolds HM, launched 1924 was top of the range until 531 came out in 1935). Bill Hurlow confirmed FHG had not started using 531 in 1936.
Bill Hurlow (b May 1921) joined FHG Ltd at Haydons Rd in March 1936 aged 14. “The Company’s credit worthiness was so weak I was often sent with cash in hand to buy components. Serial numbers were all 3 digit [this indicates a huge drop in production levels NK], stamped on the upper headlug front (above the headbadge) and on the fork steerer tube“. Both headlugs incorporated a headset ball-race, the new push-in headsets, which we called ‘Colonial Headsets’, were frowned upon in the UK. Ironically, the Australians called them ‘British Headsets’. (BH)
| 1936 Catalogue: | Cycles:Wimbledon Club No. 2Wimbledon Club Model No. 1Wimbledon Club Model No. 2Wimbledon Lady’s Model No. 1Wimbledon Lady’s Model No. 2Special TourerLondon StreakSuper-Lite |
| Tandems: PullmanEagleDouble Gents cum Lady-BackTrack: Path |
From invoices, Fred was trading as FH Grubb Ltd early in 1947. This aluminium headbadge was probably adopted immediately post war, as aluminium, scarce at the start of war, was one of the few abundant metals at this time. The brass FHG headbadge appears on c1950 frames.
1949-51 models were: Perfection which was available in many different versions, including a twin seat-tube option, the Perfection Exquisite (scroll style lug work) and the Perfection de Triomphe (long points on headlugs and windows) were two. d’Avignon (lugged or lugless), Côte d’Azur (lugged or lugless) and Sprint Omnium.
Freddie Grubb
Fred died on 6 March 1949 aged 61, his family continued the business. Fred’s son, Frederick H Grubb was MD in Feb 1950 (but probably only part-time at Haydons Rd), the other 3 Directors were W.V. Grubb, Bill Rann and Ivor R. Cox (ex Holdsworth Director). Dick Swann (d 6 Sept 2003 aged 85) was also involved in some way, he was Company Secretary of the Grubb Finance Co after WW2 (VCC News & Views 298/8 Dec03 /Jan04), Charlie Roberts joined for a few months (WBH).
When petrol rationing ended on 26 May 1950 it had an odd effect on cycle makers. Parts became available, so they geared up production to clear their waiting list, built up during the rationing years, while meeting current demand. So production increased sharply, however, new orders slowed down, as some potential customers opted for a motorcycle, perhaps with a sidecar. So once the waiting list was fulfilled, they were geared-up to produce extra, but with lowered demand. Grubb production rose by 50% in 1950. Then came the crash.
The following undated catalogue mentions “…the late FH Grubb…” with pics of ‘F H Grubb‘ decals on the d’Avignon model and clear pics of ‘FREDDIE GRUBB‘ decals on the Côte d’Azur and Perfection models. It seems that FH Grubb & Freddie Grubb decals were used interchangably during this period, you could get an F.H. Grubb Perfection or a Freddie Grubb Perfection. My current theory, is that ‘Freddie Grubb’ was adopted after Fred’s death, to signify Fred’s son (once he became MD), continuing alongside his father in a manner of speaking, as the son was also named Frederick H Grubb.
| 1950? Catalogue: | Cycles:d’Avignon £27/10/0 (£25/16/6 welded). Short dist. road & club ridingCôte d’Azur £37/3/2 (£35/9/9 welded) Long dist. road & racingPerfection £44/19/4 “for the Conoisseur”Sprint Omnium (Track) £34/15/3Specially for tourists: our leaflet “Two Cycling Masterpieces”…suggests there may also be two touring models, Tandems & Trikes were available too. |
| Framesets: d’Avignon £12/17/6 (£11-10-0. welded)Côte d’Azur £14/7/6 (£13.0.0. welded)Perfection £16/16/0″Exquisite”, “de Triomphe” or other lugsetsSprint Omnium (Track) £13/17/6 |
The shop at Robsart St, Brixton appears to have gone, however 464 London Rd, Croydon, Surrey is advertised. At the Earls Court Cycle Show, Oct/Nov 1950, the new Touriste model was launched, in gents and ladies versions. The Perfection was top of the range. There were ‘welded’ and lugged models on display, as well as tandems and the Rann tandem trailer.
The business was struggling and the receiver auctioned off various frames etc in May 1951. However FH Grubb was still trading in Nov 1951, with showrooms at 130 Haydons Rd & Works at 147a Haydons Road. They had a new, very expensive, range of frames for 1952, comprising :
Nov 1951 Catalogue: The Blue Star, The Southern Cross, The Silver Comet (track) all available lugged or lugless, & the Golden Meteor.
Frame serial numbers during the FHG Era (1935 to late 1951), run from (presumably) frame ‘1’ in 1935 to c. 2900 late in 1951. The highest known ‘FHG Era’ number is Cote D’Azur 2867 Auctioned in May 1951.
1952 Holdsworthy Freddie Grubb
| Holdsworthy bought the marque FH Grubb very late in 1951 or very early in 1952, they adopted the name “Freddie Grubb” for the down tube decals and range. Bill Hurlow built the first Holdsworthy Freddie Grubb, he was Holdsworthy’s top frame-builder by then (he left just after Easter 1952). He recalls a small batch of very high quality hand-cut lugsets were brought in from Grubb’s. He was told to use these on the first batch of their Freddie Grubb frames, despite his protests that these lugs were too good, for what was to be a lower end frame. This means that some of the very first Holdsworthy Grubbs could have Perfection or Côte D’Azur etc lugs, indeed the Perfection model was re-introduced for 1953, it has french Oscar Egg lugs, hand cut, which look very like one of the lugsets used on the 1950 Perfection. Holdsworthy always used Plain Gauge tubing on their Grubbs, they were universally considered as a ‘second grade’ bike, what we now call an enthusiasts ‘winter bike’. Some held their Grubb in such high regard they preferred it to their summer steed. Holdsworth re-started the frame number system. Again it was a simple serial number, without embedded codes, presumably starting at ‘1’. This system ran until 1976. Until 1976 Holdsworthy kept separate number systems for thier Holdsworth, Grubb, Claud Butler & MacLean marques. |
| 1953 Catalogue: Perfection frame greatly reduced at £11 11 0, Southern Cross frame almost half the Nov 1951 price of £16 17 6 at £8 15/- & the Blue Star cycle. The ‘Rann’ Tandem Trailer & ‘Grubb’ Home Trainer are also offered. This aluminium ‘Anerley – SE20’ FH Grubb headbadge was used by Holdsworthy on their 1953 Grubb range. |  |
1955 A new road model, the Meteor frameset was launched.
| 1956 Catalogue: Meteor, Comet & Southern Cross frames, Silver Star frame or cycle. “Rann” Tandem Trailer, Grubb Home Trainer.The FH Grubb headbadge (right) says SE 20, so it is also Holdsworthy era. It was fitted to all 1956 frames and probably earlier ones, its last year appears to be 1963 (see Routier in 1963 and 64 cats). The crossed flags badge appears in the 1964 range.1957 Catalogue to follow: Meteor, Comet & Southern Cross frames, Silver Star frame or cycle 1958 Catalogue: Meteor, Comet & Southern Cross frames, Silver Star frame or cycle 1959 Catalogue: Meteor & Comet frames, Silver Star frame or cycle 1960 Catalogue to follow: Meteor frame, Comet Track/Road frame, Silver Star frame or cycle, Adventurer cycle |
| 1961 Catalogue: Meteor frame, Comet Track/Road frame, Silver Star frame or cycle, Adventurer cycle |
| 1962 Catalogue: | Cycles:Silver Star £25/11/6 to £31/10/1Super Nova £31/5/4 *New*Super Nova has Campy Gran Sport 5 spd & Universal CPs | Super Nova Oct 1962 |
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| Framesets: Silver Star £7/12/6Comet £9/17/6Meteor £9/19/6 |
| 1963 Catalogue: | Cycles:Routier £25/6/3 *New*Super Routier £28/7/6 *New*Super Nova £31/3/6Super Routier gets a Campy Gran Sport 5 speed & Weinmann brakes. |
| Framesets: Routier £7/12/6 *New*Comet £9/17/6Tourmalet £9/19/6 *New* |
| 1964 Catalogue: | Cycles:Routier Mk1 £25/14/6Routier Mk2 £26/14/0Super Routier £28/14/6Super Nova £31/17/6 |
| Framesets: Routier £7/17/6Comet £9/17/6Tourmalet £10/10/0 | |
| A new Headbadge says FH Grubb, London SE20 (Holdsworth’s Anerley factory). It has crossed Italian and chequered flags inside a laurel wreath. This badge was launched during 1963 and so appears in the 1964 range (see headshot of Routier in 1963 and 64 cats). I think the Italian flag is to advertise Holdsworth going all Continental in 1962, or perhaps to underline their link with Campagnolo. The French company Prugnat now supply most lugs and crowns. |
| 1965 Catalogue: | Cycles:Routier Mark 1 £25/19/6 +2.5%Routier Mark 2 £26/19/6 +2.5%Super Routier £28/19/6 +2.5%Super Nova £31/16/6 +2.5%Routier Mk1 gets GB Side-Pulls, Mk2 gets Weinmann 999 or GB 66’s. |
| Framesets: Routier £7/17/6Veloce £10/2/6 (road/path) *New*Tourmalet £10/10/0 (Campy ends add 19/4d) |
| 1966 Catalogue: | Cycles:Routier Mark 1 £25/19/6Routier Mark 2 £27/15/6Super Routier £29/19/6Super Nova £32/16/6Routier Mk1 gets a Huret Svelto 5 speed gear & GB alloy Side-pulls Routier Mk2 gets a Simplex Prestige 5 speed & Weinmann 999 or GB 66’s Super Routier gets a Campag Gran Sport 5 speed & Weinmann 999 or GB 66’s |
| Framesets: Routier £7/19/6Veloce £10/2/6 (road/path)Tourmalet £10/15/0 |
| 1967 Catalogue: | Cycles:Routier Mark 1 £26/19/6Routier Mark 2 £28/19/6Super Routier £30/19/6Pyrennean £35/19/6 *New*Routier Mk2 gets a Simplex Prestige 5 speed and Weinmann 999 or GB 66’s. |
| Framesets: Routier £8/10/0Veloce £10/10/0 (road/path)Tourmalet £10/15/0 (Campy ends add £1) |
| 1968 Range | Cycles:Routier Mark 1 £30/19/6Routier Mark 2 £31/19/6Super Routier £35/19/6Pyrennean £39/19/6Routier Mk2 gets centre pull brakes, Weinmann 999 or GB 66’s. |
| Framesets: Routier £9/10/0Veloce £11/15/0 (road/path)Tourmalet £12/0/0 (Campy ends add £1/5/0) |
| 1969 Range | Cycles:Routier Mark 2 £32/19/6Super Routier £35/19/6Pyrennean £42/10/0Routier Mk2 gets a Valentino Extra 5 speed and Weinmann 999 or GB 66’s. |
| Framesets: Routier £10/05/0Veloce £12/15/0 (road/path)Tourmalet £13/0/0 (Campy ends add £1/5/0) |
| 1971 Catalogue: Tourmalet 531 Road Racing (frameset only), 72o parallel, Prugnat lugs, Campag ends extra. Galibier ‘The latest hand built lightweight’ in Purple with Arizona Gold contrasts, or Arizona Gold with Purple contrasts. Available as frameset only or 5 speed cycle, with New Velox or Valentino Extra gears. |
| 1972 Catalogue: Tourmalet 531 Road Racing (frameset only), 72o parallel, Prugnat lugs, Campag ends extra. Galibier ‘The latest hand built lightweight’ in Purple with Arizona Gold contrasts, or Arizona Gold with Purple contrasts. Available as frameset only or 5 speed cycle, with New Velox or Valentino Extra gears. |
| 1976 Models: (Bike Riders Aids ’76) | |
| Galibier and Tourmalet framesets | Galibier cycles. A range of four models |
Phil McHoul’s 1977 Galibier. Original colouring was purple with orange (Arizona Gold) bands with a “Longworth’s of Wallasey” sticker. The pretty basic original kit has mostly gone. The frame has no braze-ons for shifters, no rear mech. hanger on the Holdsworth dropouts. It has plain gauge tubing and Reynolds 531 fork blades. Phil was once told that FG was the first UK manufacturer to fit Campagnolo components.The final Headbadge in 1977.
The Holdsworthy Co. stand at the Harrogate Show had Holdsworth, Claud Butler and Freddie Grubb bikes up until 1977. In 1978 there were no Grubbs. Phil’s Galibier has a 1977 serial number, it seems they dropped the name in 1978. There are no Grubbs in the 1981 Holdsworth catalogue.