THE ORIGINAL La QUELDA
The La Quelda ran from 1936-1954 and was replaced in 1955 by the Italia which was gone by 1957.
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.
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).
La Quelda’s origins
The Tour de France introduced National teams and anonymous frames (identical bikes?) in 1930. They soon relaxed the rules a little, for example Speicher won the 1933 Tour after designing an improved braking system.
The lugless TdF frame, that still sat in the 132 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney shop in 1938, had the name “Roth” on the top-tube. The only TdF rider 1930-46 named Roth was the German Bruno Roth. His first tour was 4th to 28th July 1935, wearing No. 79 (riders numbered alphabetically by surname) he came in 23rd.
His final tour was in 1936, he wore No. 71. The Tour ran 7 July to 2 Aug 1936. In the 5th stage, the start of the Alps, Bruno came in 66th (out of 78) he did not complete Stage 6. So the bike in 132 Putney could have been either his 1935 or 1936 bike.
The 1935 and 1936 Tours were won by Belgians Romain Maes and Sylvère Maes respectively. One source says they both rode Alcyon bikes. If true it may mean the whole Tour rode Alcyons (including Bruno). This seems unlikely though, because Desgrange introduced the same bike rule partly to ‘have a go’ at large manufacturers (like Alcyon) and I think the Tour supplied the bikes.
1935 and 1936 bikes only had two sprockets, one each side of the hub (like the Putney Roth bike), although Vervaecke was caught using a derailleur climbing the Aubisque in 1936 and penalised 10 min. Derailleurs (3 speed) were first allowed in the TdF in 1937.
Winners frame 1927-1930, 1932, 1935 and 1936 given as ‘Alcyon’
1931, 1934 ‘France Sport’ (ridden by Magne both years)
1933 unknown make (ridden by Speicher).
There can be no doubt, the bike at 132 Putney was Bruno Roth’s 1935 or 1936 Tour bike, but whether it was an Alcyon is unknown. I think it will prove to be his 1936 bike and the ‘inspiration’ for La Quelda. It had clearly been used and Owen Bryars sold it to Dick Clements (shop staff) c1938. Dick always sat at the window above the shop doing his packing job. He bought Roths bike for £3, promptly stripped it and sold the bits separately for about £15, this displeased Owen. (Bill Hurlow)
1936 La Quelda Ad (Classic Rendezvous) Advertised as a “welded” bicycle, it was initially steel welded. “No Lugs, Any Angles”. It was Reynolds tubed, but whether 1936 ones were HM or 531 is unclear as yet. 1936 spec had a Simplex Professional gear, two Bulla brakes, Brooks saddle with Sprints and Tubs or High Pressures and Guards, at £13-19-6d (bike).
1938 catalogue data
Jan 1938 Nimrod does a road test for “Cycling”, La Quelda had 41.5 inch wheelbase & a clip headset. (101K)
1 Feb 1939 A new range of 3 La Quelda bicycles was advertised: La Quelda Club £9 17s 6d, La Quelda Flyer £12 12s 6d, La Quelda Supreme £16 17 6d or £17 17s with sprints, all steel welded. The framesets only differ in their finish. Early La Quelda’s had Reynolds High Manganese tubing, rather than 531. Peter Duncan recalls arc welded Reynolds 531 proved a tad snappy, this perhaps explains the shift to filet brazed 531 after the war. All Holdsworths pre WW2 had a clip headset except L’Internationale launched in 1939.
THE La QUELDA 1947-1955
Soon after World War 2 Reynolds 531 was adopted and La Queldas were “bronze welded” (now called filet brazed). Clip headsets continued to be used until late 1946.
1947 La Quelda (Pics courtesy of Doug Smith)
A 1948 La Quelda in it’s expensive original finish. The frame is silver with contrasting gold headtube (with 2″ spearpoints) and matching seat-tube panel. By 1948 a few folk would have a hand in building any frame, however the B on the bottom bracket is beleived to signify the main builder, presumably Sid Bishop, this was done for wage purposes. Another 1948 La Quelda serial 9444 carries an H for Bill Hurlow. Pics courtesy of Hilary Stone.
1949 La Quelda is Bronze welded. If the customer wants the whole headtube chromed (Extra) then headtube welds are steel welded, so that the chrome will take. Offered as Road or Track frames.
1949 Super Spec. & Extras
Special Club Spec.
Flyer Spec.
1950 Spec. & Extra
Club
Flyer
1951 Spec. & Extras
1952 Spec. & Extras
1953 Spec. & Extras
1954 Spec. & Extras
Listed in the 1955 catalogue it was gone by 1957, maybe the year before.
Model Recognition Table
| Frame Number System & Location (Repeated on fork Stearer Tube) | Pre-War Seat lug and fork Crown, later Fork Steerer 1946 Four Digits on seat lug in some cases, mostly under BB, early 50’s rear dropouts, 60/70 Drive side BB |
| Frame Tubing (Seat Tube ID – mm) | Pre-War Reynolds HM 1946-55 Reynolds 531 DB, 1954 A&P Kromo Alt. |
| Frame Angles, Head/Seat, (deg) | 1937 73/70, 1938 to Choice, 1939 73/71 or to Choice 1946- 55 Typically 73/71 or Any Angle Alt. |
| Tube OD (Inch) – Top-Down-Seat | 1 – 1 1/8 – 1 1/8″ |
| Head Tube Lugs | Welded Construction no Lugs |
| Fork Crown | 1937 Continental Taper D to Round, 2 5/8″ Rake 1946-55 Not Known  |
| Head Set Type | Pre-War Clip 1946-55 1″ Threaded  |
| Seat Lug | Welded Construction no Lugs |
| Seat Stay Attachment | To side of Seat Tube |
| Seat Stem Bolt | Top Tube Clamp Ring |
| Bottom Bracket Lugs | Welded Construction no Lugs |
| Gear Cable Run, Over/Under BB | Over BB |
| Rear Stay Length (CBB – CDO) | Pre-War not Known 1950 17 1/2″ |
| Wheel Base (Spindle to Spindle) | Pre -War 41 1/2″ 1950 41 1 /2″ |
| Rear Dropouts (Front) | Pre/Post-War Stamped 1946-55 Stmped with Stallard Option  |
| Rear Brake Bridge | Pre-War Straight? 1946 Curved  |
| Brake Bridge Boss – Recessed Bolt | n/a |
| BB Hight | Pre/Post War 10 1/2″ |
| Wheel Size | Pre War 26/27″, 1946-55 27″ |
| Head Badge/Transfer | Pre-War Transfer 1946-55 Badge |
| Decals & Name Plate | Pre-War WFH on down tube 1946-55 See Cat. for details, typically Cheverons |
| BB Cable Guides | no |
| BB Oiler | Yes |
| Gear Change Lever Lugs | Pre-War No |
| Rear Stay Gear Cable Guides | Pre-War No |
| TT Brake Cable Stops/Guides | Pre-War No |
| Mudguard Stay Attachments | 1937 French Type 1946-55 eyes to drop outs |
| Bottle Holder Bosses | no |
| Colour | 1937 Continental Cain, Paloma Green or Sebastian Blue 1938 Celecital Blue or to Choice 1946-55 To Choice |
| Chrome | 1937 Crown, Front & Rear Ends, 1938 Crown |
| Comments |