W.F. Holdsworth began selling by mail order in late 1923 and opened a shop in 1927, first at Beckenham and then at Putney, London, according to N. Kilgariff's company history. Holdsworth bought the Freddie Grubb marque in 1951 and passed to Falcon, part of the Elswick Hopper group, in 1987.
Key facts
- Founded
- Mail order from late 1923; shop from 1927
- Based
- Beckenham, then Putney, London
- Ownership
- Falcon (Elswick Hopper group) 1987
Holdsworth models
Years show the earliest and latest evidence found so far, not exact production dates.
Club / lightweight
- CycloneThe Cyclone is in the 1952 Holdsworth catalogue in 531 or Kromo, with 73° head and 71° seat angles.1952
- La QueldaHoldsworth's 1952 catalogue lists La Quelda, a welded Reynolds 531 frame on Dunlop high-pressure rims.1952
- La VariableLa Variable is in the 1952 Holdsworth catalogue: the Typhoon specification with a Simplex or Benelux gear.1952
- TornadoThe Tornado is in Holdsworth's 1952 catalogue in Reynolds 531 or Kromo, with a low bracket and Continental drop-outs.1952
- TyphoonThe Typhoon is in Holdsworth's 1952 catalogue, hand built in Reynolds or Kromo tubing with a Brooks B.17 saddle.1952
- WhirlwindThe Whirlwind is in Holdsworth's 1952 catalogue, in Reynolds 531 or Kromo with hand-picked lugs.1952
- ZephyrThe Zephyr is the road-path frame in Holdsworth's 1952 catalogue, with 73° head and seat angles and heavy plate path ends.1952
Racing lightweight
- AutographThe Autograph is in Holdsworth's 1976 catalogue, with Campagnolo Nuovo Gran Sport gears and Weinmann side-pull brakes.1976
- ClassicThe Classic is the time trial frame in Holdsworth's 1976 catalogue, in Reynolds 531 SL with 75° parallel angles and a 38in wheelbase.1976
- EquipeThe Equipe is in Holdsworth's 1976 catalogue, with Campagnolo Valentino Extra gears and Weinmann 999 brakes.1976
- Nuovo RecordHoldsworth's 1976 catalogue lists a Nuovo Record 12-speed bicycle with a Campagnolo Strada double chainset.1976–1982
- ProfessionalHoldsworth's 1976 catalogue lists the Professional, with 75° parallel angles in Reynolds 531 double-butted, and the Professional SL…1976–1983
- RecordThe Record is in Holdsworth's 1976 catalogue, a Reynolds 531 frame with brazed-on fittings, presented as a spare bike for road racers.1976
- SpecialHoldsworth listed a 531 Special in 1976, with oval fork blades, 73° parallel angles and a 40in wheelbase.1976–1983
- Super Record 12The 1976 Holdsworth catalogue lists a Super Record 12-speed bicycle, built with a Campagnolo Super Record chainset and gear…1976
- AvantiThe Avanti is in Holdsworth's 1982 catalogue with a Reynolds 531 frame, SunTour VX 12-speed gears and Weinmann 500 brakes.1982–1983
- ElanThe Elan is in Holdsworth's 1982 catalogue as a racing and training frameset with Reynolds 531 butted main tubes and forks…1982
- CompetitionThe Competition is in Holdsworth's late 1983 catalogue, built in Reynolds 531 competition tubing with 74° angles.1983
- UltimaThe Ultima is in Holdsworth's late 1983 catalogue, with 531 butted tubing and Campagnolo fork ends.1983
Touring lightweight
Sources for this brand
Last updated 19 October 2026. Every fact on this page comes from one of these.