The meaning of La Quelda is unclear. The Tour de France bikes in the mid 30’s were identical, so the Tour would be a test of rider. Sandy went to Le Tour to look at the bikes for ideas. All frames were arc welded and cane coloured. He returned to UK and developed a similar frameset. One source says he wanted a name which sounded French and welded. Mrs H coined the name La Quelda (meaningless) as it sounded French and also like ‘L’ Arc Welder’ or Quill Welder.
Bill Hurlow worked at Quill Lane in 1938, he says Bill Rann designed La Quelda and that the name came from Quill and Welder. He confirms that a TdF bike, cane coloured with only a L’auto decal and the riders name ‘Roth’ on the top tube had been acquired and lay in the Putney shop in 1938. It had one sprocket on each side of the hub. This was Bruno Roth’s 1935 or 1936 TdF bike. It appears that Bruno’s frame was ‘the inspiration’ for La Quelda. More Details
Other products were named after Quill Lane too, the Quill pannier carrier and the Quillite.
Bill Rann welded some La Queldas, and then Ray Cook who worked there as a welder.
Before the war they started to use imported Bronzagene filler rod, but they used 5/16 inch rods which were really too thick, so they got big fat welds (Bill Hurlow).