Hi Mick-
Yes, I have it earlier that Les Ephgrave left Claud Butler (earlier than Ray's cited '52) and indeed more like ''49 or '50 based on my conversations with Bill Hurlow, who was a contemporary and former workmate of Ephgrave's. Immediately after the war Bill returned to Holdsw., and he described going to visit Ephgrave at Butler's (Ephgrave had not been in the war), finding him sitting idle there because he had exceeded his "quota" of produced bikes. I own an early Ephgrave #1 with serial number LE1003 that the previous owner believed was from '50/'51, but I have not tried to research this. Do you have any insights into frame numbers or know people I might contact? I would like to find an appropriate buyer for the bike (or a suitable trade) since it does not really fit with my collection.
Regards,
Jonathan Agnew
In a message dated 4/22/2004 3:01:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
> Lou and Les Ephgrave both learnt their trade at Claud Butlers. When they
> were at Butlers Stuart Purves was the works manager. Stuart Purves (
> Stuarts) left Butlers in about 1948 to start his own business and the
> Ephgraves not long after. The Ephgraves were united with Stuart Purves later
>
> on when Stuart became the works manager at Ephgrave's Avely works.
>
>
>
> Best wishes and be lucky. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.