Hope this is of interest to the CR list members I have just identified an unknown frame for a fellow Clarion member. It was a Stan Butler Special made by Allin's of Croydon probably in the early 1960's. This lad after by advice looked up Allin's on the CR website and the information and history on there is a little bit different to what I told him. So here is what I know on this famous firm with researchable references: I was told many years ago that this firm was founded in late 1919 as firstly Allin and Grubb. That is Ching Allin and F.H.Grubb the famous British racing cyclist and silver medallist at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm. The first reference to the firm I can find is in Cycling March 4th.1920 page xvi Grubb Racing Cycles with the simplest and quickest form of quick release wheels extant by ALLIN & GRUBB 132 Whitehorse Road, Croydon. Funnily on the same page is an advert for F.H.Grubb 250 London Road, Croydon and this adverts states "no connection with any other firm" so it would seem they had already parted company. Next is Cycling September 30th 1920 page XI THE ORIGINAL GRUBB CYCLES with quick release wheels NOTE OUR NAME AND ADDRESS 132 Whitehorse Road, Croydon. My Cycling's are a little sparse from these early years and the only other one I have from 1920 is December 23rd page xii WILL ALL RIDERS OF ORIGINAL GRUBB CYCLES Allin & Grubb kindly forward us of all their successes on road and path for 1920. For our private information. Details on no account to be used for advertising. Allin & Grubb as previous address. On the opposite page advert for F.H.Grubb "NOT THE ONLY DROPOUT BUT THE ONLY GENUINE QUICK RELEASE. I was told many moons ago by Bill Bush and Len James former stalwarts of the Southern Veteran Cycling Club that there was one hell of a row between Ching Allin and Fred Grubb over who originally designed the drop-out and quick release on the Grubb bicycle. Apparently Fred Grubb wanted all the credit as his name had top billing on the bikes they were making and Ching was annoyed by this also staking his claim. We know that they parted sometime in 1920 and both had separate shops by then. The next reference I can find is in Cycling August 24th 1922 page x DAVEY CYCLES quality, quick release, quick attach, quick service, quite the best, A.H.Allin 132 Whitehorse road, Croydon also in this issue Grubb advert expounding the GRUBB QUICK RELEASE. Finally the only other Cycling I have is May 11th 1922 page Xii Davey Cycles Quick Release Quick Attach all British design A.H.Allin (late Allin & Grubb) 132 Whitehorse Road Croydon and on page x F.H.Grubb the New F.H.GRUBB Quick Release Fork End no adjusters, no loose washers, no hollow spindles, no bolts in frame. Cycling May 5th 1984. Allin's Cycles of Croydon is one of those old long established cycle dealers which is known well beyond its immediate locality it serves. For 60 years, cyclists have come from far and wide to Allin's for traditional service. This is now being carried out by Ray Moore and John Hutt of East Grinstead CC who have owned the firm for the last three years. They took over the business from Stan Butler and Ching Allin who had run it for 34 years. It was founded by Ching's father in 1920 at 132 Whitehorse Road, Croydon. His sons Archie and Ching where both in the business in 1939 by which time it had moved to 81a Whitehorse Road. Ching went into the army and Archie went on war work in Coventry. Both were bicycle polo stars (I think Norwood Paragon). Ching was of international standard. Allin Cycles moved in 1946 to its present home 57/59 Whitehorse Road. For 30 of their 34 years Peter Cobb was their frame builder. Ching was the mechanic and Stan was the salesman he was not keen on the mechanical side. Interestingly Stan Butler was a Olympic cyclists in the 1932 Los Angeles games he came 17th in the 100k time trial. He rode on Constrictor wooden rims shod with Constrictor 50's tubs which weighed 12 ounces and were quite lumpy.The wheels had double butted spokes tied and soldered and a Brooks B17 Flyer saddle. BSA chain-set with Boa pedals and Southall bars. He rode with two cracked ribs! Of the seven British riders who went to the games six of them one medals. Frank Southall and Stan Butler were both in the Norwood Paragon who's members all rode Allin's when I was a kid, incidentally most British cycling clubs were loyal to one local maker back then. Hope this adds to the history on the excellent CR site.
Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.