[CR] Williamson Bros.

(Example: Framebuilders:Pino Morroni)

Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 20:49:12 +0100 (BST)
From: "Michael Butler" <pariscycles@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: [CR] Williamson Bros.
To: CR Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


My Dad has just given me a 1939 Williamson Brothers catalogue. This was his local lightweight shop that he used for many years. Williamson Brothers had two branches: 34-36 Holloway Road, London, N.7. and 134 Willesden Lane, London N.W.6. The shops were owned by Mr. C.H.Bowles & Mr.A.C.Williamson. They were a very popular make and are noted for their "Special Model" but are mostly remembered for their wonderful tandems. Their really unusual model was the "Path" which incorporated the unique steering system designed by Mr.A.C.Williamson in the early I930's. The handlebar stem consisted of a vertical tube in front of the head tube. This being attached by a bracket under the headset lock-nut and another bracket under the front fork crown. The bars could be raised or lowered on this tube. The catalogue blurb states " It has been well tested and proved to have many advantages over the more orthodox type. By swinging from crown and top of steering column the twisting strain is removed from the column itself and the head is stiffened generally and the very steady steering thus produced gives greater confidence at speed, especially when cornering. The unusual method of handlebar attachment allows enormous variety of bar position the clip both sliding up or down the extended tube and is also reversible". This had the added advantage of being instantly recognisable in Cycling media photographs. Williamson's were also one of the pioneers of cutaway lugs which were really filed down to the limits. I have seen only one Williamson in the last ten years where once they were really quite common.

Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.