Re: [CR]Crump's challenge: eBay '52 New Allrounder

(Example: Framebuilders:Tony Beek)

Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:00:47 -0500
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Crump's challenge: eBay '52 New Allrounder
In-Reply-To: <002a01c841d5$6cfe3e20$9bd06851@nonefpfvwek4mv>


At 12:23 AM 19/12/2007 -0000, Peter Brown wrote:
>Now that the auction has finished, here is my answer to John’s
>question
>about the originality of the bike:
>
>
>
>If it is 1952 it should be described as a NEW Allrounder

Yes, that's what it says in the 1951 catalogue scan you sent me a while back. I never knew when the Allrounder became a New Allrounder. I thought it was '53 but I guess I'm wrong. I believe the lug pattern of the Avant Coureur was inherited by the New Allrounder when the AC got Nervex style bilaminated "lugs".
>Frame sizes offered were not in ½” steps, only 21”, 22”, 23”,
>and 24”, and
>the top tube should be 22½” long

I think mine was described as 22-1/2" or 22-1/4", but can't remember for sure. These measurements are, of course, taken the standard British way, to the top of the seat lug. I'm positive my '53 had a conventional seat lug clamp, not the external clamp on an extended seat tube. I would presume frames with the external clamp were measured to a point level with the top of the top tube. Incidentally, the 1951 "Allrounder" frame I got from Hilary measures 22-1/4" to the top of the seat tube extension and 21-1/2" to the top of the top tube.


>531 transfer is not period

Should it be '531' TUBING instead of 531 FRAME TUBES? I know my '53 had one or the other, but I can't remember which.


>A 1952 Brooks saddle should have an oval logo.

True. Also, my '53 had a B15, not the B17 I've seen in catalogues on the web.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada