The Original Zephyr
See Model Recognition Table below & pre-war ID hints on Holdsworth Model pages
The first Zephyr model was a ladies cycle, offered in 1933/4. It was modelled on a machine used by Mrs Holdsworth, it was no longer in the range in 1938.
Road/Path + Path 1952-1961+
Road/path models have track rear dropouts with mudguard eyelets. They have track ends because they were designed for fixed wheel use, but have mudguard eyelets for outdoor use. This could be the sign of a time-trial frameset, as most time triallists used a fixed wheel until the mid 1960’s, and (with mudgaurds added) a top quality winter trainer, as racers often rode a fixie over winter.
A pure path Zephyr was first available in 1954 built with Reynolds 531 tubing.
c1956 Bob Johnson’s lovely Zephyr, believed to be in original finish. The lugs are cut out to the “Coronet” pattern, ornated with windows.
1957 Zephyr
Fluted seatstay top-eyes appear in 1957 & 1958 catalogues
During 1958 (perhaps for 1959) a new lug set was adopted on the Zephyr, very different to the original “coronet” style. The top-eyes remain fluted.
1958 Zephyr
During 1958 The Zephyr also used the Nervex Pro Lugs in line with the Cyclone
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1958 Shop Built Factory Special. Note non-std. shop modifications: Full wrap-over seat stay, integral seat bolt and threaded rear brake bridge.
1961 The Cyclone and Zephyr were effectively road, time trial or track versions of the same ‘top-of-the-range’ frame. They had the same tubesets and identical lugs. The Cyclone was the road version, with Agrati or Campag road dropouts and 73o head / 71o seat or 72o parallel angles, while the Zephyr had heavy plate track dropouts, with mudguard eyelets as standard but could be omitted, track fork crown with round fork blades and 73o parallel angles.
Model Recognition Table – Pre-war Ladies Model, this is a summary, pls see catalogues for full details.
| Frame Number System & Location (Repeated on fork Stearer Tube) | 1934 Four digits on seat lug and rear of fork crown 1952-61 Under BB or Rear Dropout early 50’s |
| Frame Tubing (Seat Tube ID – mm) | 1934 Reynolds HM Aircraft 1951-61 Reynolds 531 DB (27.2mm) |
| Frame Angles, Head/Seat, (deg) | 1934 Special 1951-61 73/73 |
| Tube OD (Inch) – Top-Down-Seat | 1 – 1 1/8 – 1 1/8″ |
| Head Tube Lugs | 1934 W.F.H. Special Cut Lugs 1952 Coronet    1958 Fish Tail & Nervex Option     |
| Fork Crown | 1934 HM D to Round 1952-61 Coronet, ~2″ Rake (1958))    |
| Head Set Type | 1934 Clip  1952-61 1″ Threaded  |
| Seat Lug | 1934 W.F.H. Special Cut Lugs 1952 Coronet 1958 Fish Tail & Nervex     |
| Seat Stay Attachment | 1934 to side of lugs with cut back Semi-Wrap Over 1952 Coronet 1958 Fluted    |
| Seat Stem Bolt | 1934 Nut & bolt  1952-61 Pintch Bolt    |
| Bottom Bracket Lugs | 1934 W.F.H. Special Cut Lugs 1952 Coronet, 1958 Fish Tail & Nervex    |
| Gear Cable Run, Over/Under BB | n/a |
| Rear Stay Length (CBB – CDO) | 1934 Reynolds Special Fluted 1952-61 16 1/2″ (1958) |
| Wheel Base (Spindle to Spindle) | 1934 42″ 1952-61 ~40 1/2″ (1958) |
| Rear Dropouts (Front) | 1934 Stamped 1952-61 Track Ends  |
| Rear Brake Bridge | 1934 Straight?  1952-61 Curved  |
| Brake Bridge Boss – Recessed Bolt | no |
| BB Hight | 1934 10 1/2″ |
| Wheel Size | 1934 26″ 1952-61 27″ |
| Head Badge/Transfer | 1934 Transfer 1952-61 Badge |
| Decals & Name Plate | 1934 no 1952-61 Yes TT |
| BB Cable Guides | 1934 no 1952-61 N/A |
| BB Oiler | yes |
| Gear Change Lever Lugs | n/a |
| Rear Stay Gear Cable Guides | n/a |
| TT Brake Cable Stops/Guides | 1934 n/a 1952-61 no |
| Mudguard Stay Attachments | 1934 Tabs to Stays and fork blades 1952-61 Eyes to Dropouts |
| Bottle Holder Bosses | no |
| Colour | 1934 Birdie Blue 1952-61 To Choice |
| Chrome | 1934 Stay and fork ends |
| Comments | Pre War Details limited. Ladies Model 1936-37 |