[CR] Holdsworth Frame?

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing)

Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 19:47:19 -0700
From: "Paul Bailey" <live1poem@gmail.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR] Holdsworth Frame?


Hi listers, Here's a long winded update on the effort to positively identify the year and model of the Holdsworth frame on topic...

CR lister Derek Athey generously responded and dug up quite a bit of Holdsworth history and vital facts. Several exchanges ensued in the last several days. Derek remembered his 81-82 Holdsworth Professional was identical in construction detail to the frame in question and this encouraged me a great deal. After application of some fuzzy logic to four serial numbers listed in documents in Derek's possession, and near in sequence to mine, *we finally established to both our satisfaction that this frame is an 82 Holdsworth Professional*. Never mind that the only record a Professional was ever constructed in 1982 was the sales receipt for Derek's own bike. Not in itself an insignificant fact, but read on...

The abject lack of records, catalogs, etc for this year made any further confirmation impossible, even if I wasn't satisfied, which I am! 1) Andrew Muzy's observations on his page dedicated to the marque, to the effect that worthy Japanese competition, at least one poor international marketing decision, and over production was killing Holdsworth in the late 70s and 80s, and 2) Norman Kilgariff's remarks in his incomparable compilation of Holdsworth history pages, regarding the abandonment of the famous company sponsored champion team due to lack of capital after 79, and 3) a glaring absence of the top racing models (Pro, Pro SL, and Classic) from the list of bikes sold in 82, may have meant there was a temporary cessation of production of these custom shop built models, while the 81's were slowly sold off. This remains my own speculation.

Certainly, the above conditions are no help to determining an appropriate color scheme for the bike. None of pictures on the above noted pages, nor images in Derek's possession profess to be of an *82 Professional* or offer a hint of color.

The most correct color scheme may be similar to
> the *last team* (79) color scheme: orange with blue lettering, or similar to Derek's memory of color scheme on his bike,
> the *traditional team* scheme: orange with blue panels and white lettering, or similar to professional privateers subsequent to 82
> when there was *no Holdsworth sponsored team*: pearl white w/ *black*lettering or similar to some professional privateers after 82,
> when there was *no Holdsworth sponsored team*: orange with white lettering.

Since I wouldn't slavishly follow a color scheme I didn't care for, and since most years for which there is a record, Holdsworth painted "color to choice" anyway, Maybe it doesn't matter! As I told Derek, I'm partial to orange with white lettering. Orange is the color most closely identified with the marque and the white decals are available.

My next challenge? Getting up the $700 to pay Ed Litton to do the job. Anybody want to help me with that? While I await your checks in the mail,

I'd like to express my thanks to Dale and the lister community for making this 'forum' possible* and my special thanks to Derek for all his thoughtful time and research.*