Claud Butler opened his shop at Clapham Junction, London, on 28 February 1928. Holdsworth bought the trade marks in 1958, and the name passed to Elswick-Falcon in 1987.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1928 (28 February, shop opened)
- Based
- Clapham Junction, London
- Ownership
- Holdsworth bought trade marks 1958; Elswick-Falcon 1987
Claud Butler models
Years show the earliest and latest evidence found so far, not exact production dates.
Club / lightweight (20)Racing lightweight (22)Touring lightweight (6)Tandem (6)Frameset (1)Other (1)
Club / lightweight
- All-Rounder / New AllrounderThe All-Rounder runs through Claud Butler's catalogues from 1936, when it had an H.M. butted frame and 26 × 1¼in Endrick or Westwood rims.1936–1954
- Anglo-ContinentalThe Anglo-Continental is in Claud Butler's 1936 catalogue on 27 or 26in sprint wheels with a Cyclo, Simplex or Osgear 3-speed…1936–1939
- Dual-PurposeThe 1936 Claud Butler catalogue lists the Dual-Purpose model with H.M.1936
- Lady LightweightThe Lady Lightweight is in Claud Butler's catalogues from 1936, with H.M. butted tubing and a reversible fixed-and-free gear.1936–1954
- Miss ModernThe Miss Modern is in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue with a short top tube and an Osgear or Simplex 3-speed.1936–1949
- Record OlympicListed in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue, the Record Olympic had H.M. butted tubing, 26 × 1⅜ or 1¼in steel rims and a single or double cog.1936
- Silver ArrowThe Silver Arrow appears in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue with Reynolds H.M.1936–1939
- Super Taper TubeListed in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue, the Super Taper Tube model used high-tensile steel tubes…1936
- Ultra-LiteThe 'Ultra-Lite' appears in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue with H.M. butted tubing and 26in Constrictor or Tabucchi wheels.1936
- Continental ClassiqueThe Continental Classique is in Claud Butler's 1939 catalogue in Reynolds 531 with pencil barrel hubs, as a three-speed or single-speed.1939–1951
- HyperliteThe Hyperlite appears in the 1939 Claud Butler catalogue with double-butted 531 tubing, duralumin rims and ultra-light alloy hubs…1939
- Super ArrowThe Super Arrow is in Claud Butler's catalogues from 1939 to 1952.1939–1952
- Brevit ClubThe Brevit Club is in the 1949 Claud Butler catalogue with 70° parallel angles (a figure the transcription marks as uncertain) and a 40¼in wheelbase…1949
- Continental ClubThe 1949 Claud Butler catalogue lists the Continental Club, brazed with 73° head and 71° seat angles and a 41in wheelbase, as Models 17, 19 and 20…1949
- International ClubThe International Club appears in 1949 as Models 13, 14 and 16, welded by a low-temperature process with 73° head and 71° seat angles.1949–1954
- Lady's InternationalModel No. 22 in the 1949 Claud Butler catalogue, the Lady's International had a welded frame, Endrick rims and a fixed and free wheel.1949
- Sport AnglaisThe Sport Anglais is in the 1949 Claud Butler catalogue, bi-laminated with 74° head and 72° seat angles and a 40½in wheelbase…1949
- Universal ClubThe Universal Club appears in the 1952 and 1953 Claud Butler catalogues as Models 50, 50a and 50b, with a brazed lug frame and 27in wheels.1952–1953
- CoronationThe Coronation was Models 54, 54a and 54b in the 1953 and 1954 Claud Butler catalogues, with a bronze-welded frame…1953–1954
- JubileeThe Jubilee was Models 55, 55a and 55b in the 1953 and 1954 Claud Butler catalogues, in Reynolds 531 or KROMO, with a Brooks B.15 saddle in 1953.1953–1954
Racing lightweight
- International PathClaud Butler's International Path appears in 1936 as the E.H.C.1936–1949
- Road-PathThe Road-Path model is in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue with butted H.M. tubing and 27 or 26in sprint wheels.1936–1939
- Super VeloThe Super Velo appears in Claud Butler's catalogues from 1936 to 1952.1936–1952
- World's Championship Path / SprintClaud Butler's World's Championship sprint machine appears in 1936 as the D.S.H. World's Championship Path Model and in 1949 as Model No.1936–1955
- Mass-Start / Massed StartClaud Butler's 1939 catalogue lists the Mass-Start, a welded 531 frame on 27 × 1⅜in high-pressure tyres with a Simplex 3-speed…1939–1954
- Tour d'AngleterreListed in the 1939 Claud Butler catalogue, the Tour d'Angleterre had Reynolds 531 tubing, wood sprint rims and tubular tyres…1939
- Avant CoureurThe Avant Coureur appears in the 1949 Claud Butler catalogue as a Mk I club model (Model 1) and a Mk II racing model (Model 2)…1949–1954
- Closed CircuitThe Closed Circuit appears in the 1949 Claud Butler catalogue in '531' with 72½° parallel angles and a 42¼in wheelbase.1949
- Olympic (Path, Sprint and road-path)The Olympic name runs through Claud Butler's track range: the Olympic Path (Model No.1949–1961
- Pace-followerClaud Butler listed pace-followers, built to U.C.I. and/or N.C.U. dimensions, in every catalogue from 1951 to 1954.1951–1954
- Road/Track (W.45)Model W.45 appears in the 1951 and 1952 Claud Butler catalogues as the Sprint 'Road/Track', a low-temperature welded Reynolds 531 frame.1951–1955
- Saxon T.T.The Saxon T.T. is in Claud Butler's catalogues from 1953 to about 1955, a twin seat tube design with a 38⅞in overall wheelbase.1953–1955
- CompetitorClaud Butler used the Competitor name twice. In 1954 it was Model 56, a brazed-lug ten-speed with 72° parallel angles.1954–1977
- ChallengeThe 1961 C. B. Cycles catalogue lists the Challenge in '531' tubing with Continental lugs, in 21½ to 23½in frames, as a single-, five- or ten-speed.1961
- Cordon BleuThe Cordon Bleu is in the 1961 C. B. Cycles catalogue, built in '531' double-butted tubing with 72° lugs.1961
- EuropeanThe European is in the 1961 C. B. Cycles catalogue with Campagnolo Gran Sport gears, as a five- or ten-speed.1961
- Five Speed CoureurThe Five Speed Coureur is in the 1961 catalogue from C. B. Cycles, with a Benelux Mk 7 gear in 21 to 24in frames.1961
- Super CoureurThe Super Coureur is in the 1961 C. B. Cycles catalogue, offered with a Campagnolo Gran Sport five-speed gear as an upgrade.1961
- CavalierThe Cavalier appears in the 1977 Claud Butler brochure with a Sakae alloy chainset, Weinmann safety-lever brakes and Esge mudguards.1977
- ColstarThe Colstar is in the 1977 Claud Butler brochure, a hand-brazed Reynolds 531 frame with Campagnolo Nuovo Record and Universal 68 brakes.1977
- CrestaThe Cresta is in the 1977 Claud Butler brochure from The Holdsworthy Co., with Campagnolo Valentino Extra 5- or 10-speed gears and Weinmann brakes.1977
- VeloxThe Velox is in the 1977 Claud Butler brochure, with Reynolds tubing, Campagnolo Velox gears and Weinmann 999 brakes.1977
Touring lightweight
- De Luxe TourerThe De Luxe Tourer appears in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue with a 3-speed Cyclo, Sturmey-Archer or Tri-Velox gear…1936–1949
- Super-Fast TourerThe Super-Fast Tourer is in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue, built in Reynolds special-gauge H.M.1936
- SupremeThe Supreme appears in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue with H.M.1936
- Tourist AnglaisThe Tourist Anglais is in the 1939 Claud Butler catalogue, with 531 tubing, steel rims, pencil barrel hubs and a Cyclo 3-speed derailleur.1939
- Supreme TourerModel No.1949
- Touring (Models 35W and 36)The 1949 Claud Butler catalogue lists two welded Touring models: Model 35W (Mk I) with a Cyclo 3-speed and hub brakes…1949
Tandem
- Silver Ace (tandem)The Silver Ace tandem is in the 1936 Claud Butler catalogue, with Reynolds H.M.1936
- Super Club Shortbase (tandem)The 1936 Claud Butler catalogue lists the Super Club shortbase tandem, built in H.M. tubing with Brampton tandem fittings and 26 × 1⅜in rims.1936
- Competition Record (track tandem)The 'Competition Record' track tandem appears in the 1949 Claud Butler catalogue with a 60in wheelbase, as Model 33W (Mk I, welded…1949
- Ranger (tandem)The 'Ranger' tandem is in the 1949 Claud Butler catalogue, built in '531' throughout with a rear top tube for the back rider.1949
- Triplets and QuadsClaud Butler's catalogues from 1951 to 1954 offer three-, four- and five-seat machines under the heading 'Triplets and Quads'.1951–1954
- Ultra-shortbase D.P. (tandem)The Ultra-shortbase D.P.1951–1955
Frameset
Other
Sources for this brand
Last updated 19 October 2026. Every fact on this page comes from one of these.