Holdsworth 1950 Catalog — Cycles and Frames, Season 1950: the La Quelda, Cyclone and Cyclone-de-Luxe Frames, the La Quelda Special Club and Flyer

W. F. Holdsworth’s eight-page booklet for the 1950 season, scanned open as four spreads: the back and front covers, then pages 2-3, 4-5 and 6-7.

— Page 1 (front cover) —
Extras which may be Specified
(Purchase Tax, which is payable where the extras apply to a complete
cycle, is shown in brackets.)
£ s. d. | s. d.
Brazing on set of gear control cable stops and /or guides to down tube, bottom bracket and chain stay. (Including control lever boss or cut down control lever clip, if supplied) …. 2 6 | ( 7)
As above. Also making and brazing on special Osgear lugs under bottom bracket for tension arm, and brazing eye to chain-stay for striking fork …. 10 0 | ( 2 5)
“Ruby Red,” “Helyett Green” or “Brilliant Blue” flamboyants. (All on silver lustre base) …. 10 0 | ( 2 5)
Checkered band on seat tube, any two enamels. (In place of ordinary one colour band) …. 7 6 | ( 1 10)
Full Continental style panelling throughout. From …. 1 5 0 | ( 6 1)
Enamelling all head, in contrasting colour, including approx. 2″ of top and down tubes, finishing in spearpoints. (“La Quelda” frames only) …. 10 0 | ( 2 5)
Enamelling head tubes only in contrasting colour. (“Cyclone” frames only) …. 7 6 | ( 1 10)
Lining edges of all lugs in contrasting colour. (“Cyclone” frames only) …. 12 6 | ( 3 0)
Chrome Plating:—
Front fork crown. (Where not standard) …. 6 3 | ( 1 6)
Front fork ends …. 6 3 | ( 1 6)
Rear seat and chainstay ends …. 12 6 | ( 3 0)
Rear seat and chainstays, up as far as bridges | 1 5 0 | ( 6 0)
All head. (On “La Quelda” frames head is steel welded to take chrome) …. 1 7 6 | ( 6 8)
Frame and forks all over. Instead of finish as specified. “La Quelda” …. 4 15 0 | (23 0)
ditto. “Cyclone” …. 4 5 0 | (20 6)
ditto. “Cyclone-de-Luxe” …. 3 15 0 | (18 2)
Forks only, all chrome
“La Quelda” and “Cyclone” …. 17 6 | ( 4 3)
“Cyclone-de-Luxe” …. 10 0 | ( 2 5)
8

[Right-hand page.]

W. F. HOLDSWORTH’S
CYCLES
AND
FRAMES
AN ILLUSTRATED AND DESCRIPTIVE
LEAFLET OF THESE FAMOUS MACHINES
SEASON
1950
To be the owner of a “Holdsworth” hall marks you as a discriminat-
ing cyclist. I regret that owing to present conditions I can only
supply a proportion of the prospective riders of “Holdsworths.”
“The House of HOLDSWORTH”
BECKENHAM, KENT
Saleshops and Showrooms:
132, Lower Richmond Road,
PUTNEY, LONDON, S.W.15
69, HIGHBURY PARK,
HIGHBURY, LONDON, N.W.9
Agents throughout the British Isles.

[The outer side of the booklet: page 8 lists the extras which may be specified, with their prices and Purchase Tax, and the front cover shows W. F. Holdsworth’s Cycles and Frames for Season 1950 with a photograph of a lightweight bicycle. Two rusted staples show at the center fold.]

— Page 2 —
“LA QUELDA,” – The Super Frame
For the Connoisseur—For YOU.
The neat, clean lines of a first class Welded Frame produce a most
attractive Cycle.
W. F. Holdsworth is the pioneer in this country of the Welded
Lightweight Frame. The benefit of many years specialising and
experience in this class of work places him definitely in front of
his many imitators and would-be competitors.
When considering your new frame just compare the workmanship
and the finish cf La Quelda with any other.
SPECIFICATION
Materials and dimensions are fully detailed on the opposite page.
The frame is carefully handbuilt by craftsmen using the best method
known—low temperature bronze welding.
The result is a frame which is beautifully balanced and streamlined,
and on which the weight is kept to a minimum. As regards strength
it is equally as strong as a brazed lug frame—what more can be
said? In the event of an accident, the weld will not give way—like a
lugged frame, it is always the tube that goes first.
CASH PRICE £12-10-0
With “Allez” Chainset £14-17-6
Also available as a Track Frame, Angles and dimensions as
“CYCLONE” Track Frame £13-0-0
2

[Right-hand page.]

SPECIFICATION of Materials and Fittings for
“LA QUELDA” and “CYCLONE” Frames.
MAIN TRIANGLE | Reynolds double-butted “531” steel alloy tubing to top tube, down tube and head tube. Single butted “531” to seat tube. Tube ends machine mitred for perfect fit.
SEAT STAYS | ½” dia. fine taper “531” tubing with curved mudguard bridge. “Holdsworth’s” own long solid spearpoint top eyes machined and finished in our own workshops. Securely brazed high up the seat cluster.
CHAINSTAYS | ⅞” dia. tapered round-oval-round in “531” tubing, giving strength and adequate tyre clearance. Rear drop-outs are Stallard standard F.D.O. or Osgear pattern or Chater Lea.
FRONT FORKS | Heavily butted “531” steering column and “531” taper gauge oval fork blades with 2⅝” Continental rake tapering to fine dia. at ends. “Holdsworth’s” own special genuine 2-plate oval crown machined from highest quality mild steel. Stallard solid drop-out fork ends.
ATTACHMENTS | Brazed on lamp-bracket boss on right fork blade; cable stops under top tube allowing rear brake cable to run bared; and pump pegs for 15″ pump on down tube (18″ if ordered). Continental type guard eyes incorporated in front and rear drop-outs, tapped to take mudguard securing bolts, or English pattern guard eyes brazed on fork blades and seat stays. (Any brazed on attachment may be omitted if desired.)
SIZES | Usual sizes are 22″ and 23″. (20″, 21″ and 24″ to order). Head Angle 73° and seat tube angle 71° Top tube approx. 22¾”. Wheelbase 41¼”. Length of chainstays (i.e., drive) 17½”. Bracket height 10½” with 26″ wheels. Frame is built to give bare mudguard clearance when 27″ wheels are used and full clearance with 26″ wheels.
FITTINGS | The best quality on the market, including “Lytaloy” Continental type head fittings with serrated washer and locking nut for fine adjustment and 5/32″ dia. bearings top and bottom. Bracket fittings are genuine Bayliss-Wiley or Brampton plated. Also fitted are an alloy seat pillar with “Allez” polished seat pillar clamp; Reynolds, Constrictor or Chater Lea adjustable lamp bracket.
FINISH | Superb finishes in almost any colour glass-hard enamel, including the latest pastel shades or lustres in gold, copper, bronze, silver, mauve, maroon and light or dark green, blue or grey. Continental double lining and constrasting coloured band around seat tube. Spearpoints on top eyes lined in contrast. Complete set of transfers including Olympic 5-colour chevrons on seat tube.
3

[Pages 2 and 3: a photograph of the La Quelda welded frame with its fork, headset and chainset, with its description and cash prices; then the specification of materials and fittings for the La Quelda and Cyclone frames. Later pink marker strokes underline several phrases of the specification and mark part of the sizes with vertical strokes in both margins.]

— Page 3 —
THE “CYCLONE” FRAME
(Road or Track Model)
Craftsman built and brazed using best British Lugs, cut in “Holds-
worth’s” own style or Continental lugs all carefully filed and
lightened.
ROAD SPECIFICATION | As on previous page.
TRACK SPECIFICATION | As on previous page but with no brazed on attachments and with the following alterations:
REAR DROP-OUTS | “Holdsworth’s” own pattern hand made from 5/32″ thick plate so that they cannot distort under the heaviest wear. Streamlined in shape they give a full 2″ of adjustment.
FRONT FORKS | Heavily butted “531” steering column and “531” taper gauge ⅞” dia. round fork blades with 1¼” offset. Rake either gradual or semi-Continental. Genuine two plate round crown machined from highest quality mild steel. Stallard or Chater-Lea solid drop-out fork ends.
SIZES | Usual sizes are 22″ and 23″. (20″, 21″ and 24″ to order). Head and seat tubes are 73° parallel. Top Tube approx. 23″. Wheelbase 40¼”. Drive 17″. Bracket height 11¼” with 27″ wheels. Frame is built to give bare clearances with large section 27″ tubulars.
CASH PRICE £13-10-0
With “Allez” Chainset, £15-17-6
4

[Right-hand page.]

The “CYCLONE-DE-LUXE” FRAME
(Road or Track Model)
The apex of the frame builders’ art—it will be your pride and joy.
The outstanding feature of the “Cyclone-de-luxe” is the lugwork.
Highest quality British lugs are used with extra long and extra
fancy spearpoint cut-out which is completely exclusive to
“Holdsworth’s.” The crown is “Holdsworth’s” genuine two plate
oval with a finely cut diamond pattern on the top plate.
The finish, too, is really top-class. In addition to that specified on
page 3, the “Cyclone-de-luxe” has a chrome plated crown, head
tube in same colour as seat tube band and all lugs are picked out
in constrast in order to emphasize their fine workmanship.
The detail on
the right shows
to perfection
the head of the
“Cyclone-de-
luxe,” in-
cluding the lug
cut-out with its
contrasting
lining and the
chrome plated
“diamond”
top crown.
“CYCLONE-
DE-LUXE”
ROAD FRAME
(Specification
as on page 3)
or
“CYCLONE-
DE-LUXE”
TRACK FRAME
(Specification
as on pages 3
and 4.)
£15-15-0
With “Allez”
Chainset
£18-2-6
5

[Pages 4 and 5: photographs of the Cyclone and Cyclone-de-Luxe frames, each with its fork and chainset, with their specifications and cash prices; a close-up photograph shows the Cyclone-de-Luxe head lugs and crown. Later pink marker strokes underline the Cyclone’s angles and top tube length and mark its sizes in both margins.]

— Page 4 —
“LA QUELDA” SPECIAL CLUB
FRAME | Exactly as “La Quelda” frame specification, and fitted with chrome plated Williams C.34 chainwheel set, 3-arm fitting.
WHEELS | 26″ × 1¼” chrome plated Endrick rims built on Bayliss Wiley famous No. 9 and No. 10 double sided hubs, with best quality spokes. Wheels fitted with Dunlop “Sprite” tyres and tubes. Two fixed cogs and locking rings, and wing-nuts.
CHAIN | Perry roller, ½” × ⅛”.
PEDALS | Phillips “Apollo” double sided racing pedals, chrome.
GUARDS | Bluemels alloy “Airweight” or “Continental.” or “Lytaloy.”
BRAKE | Front hiduminium G.B. with hooded lever, and silver or coloured cable.
SADDLE | Mansfield leather 38.N. racing saddle.
BARS | Reynolds R.R.56 hiduminium bars, Pelissier, 15/16″ dia. Fitted with Shockstops No. 53 sleeves in colour.
STEM | G.B. hiduminium stem with either 1¾” or 2¾” extension, expander fitting.
PUMP | Bluemels “Airmaster” in alloy, or “Brittanialloy.”
CASH PRICE (including £5-3-5 P. Tax). £26-7-6
“CYCLONE” Special Club (including £5-8-3 P. Tax). £27-12-6
(As “La Quelda” Club but with “Cyclone” Frame.)
“CYCLONE-DE-LUXE” Special Club …. £30-8-6
(including £6-2-3 P. Tax)
(As “La Quelda” Club, but with “Cyclone-de-Luxe” Frame.)
6

[Right-hand page.]

“LA QUELDA” FLYER
FRAME | Exactly as “La Quelda” frame specification. Crown heavily chrome plated in addition. “Allez” super alloy chainwheel set, 6½” cranks, 46T or 47T, 3-arm fixing.
WHEELS | Chrome plated Dunlop High Pressure rims built on British Hub Co’s. “Solite” steel hubs, double-sided for gear with D /B spokes. Dunlop skin-sided H.P. tyres and tubes. G.B. alloy lever-type wing nuts. One fixed cog and lock ring fitted.
CHAIN | Renolds’ best—the “Elite,” ½” × ⅛” roller.
PEDALS | Holdsworth’s well-known “Allez” in alloy, quill pattern. Solid die-cast frame: steel spindle: 5/32″ dia. balls throughout.
GUARDS | Bluemels alloy ‘Airweight’ or ‘Continental’ or ‘Lytaloy.’
BRAKES | Pair of G.B. or improved Burlite alloy brakes. Cables in colour to suit the frame and neatly held together with a “le Dido” twin cable clamp.
SADDLE | Brooks B.17.N, Champion. The finest saddle made.
BARS | Reynolds R.R.56 hiduminium bars, 15/16″ dia., Pelissier pattern, fitted with Shockstops No. 53 sleeves in colour.
STEM | Holdsworth’s special hand-made stem, expander pattern. Long spearpoint cut-out, and finished in all chrome or in heavy chrome plate with bright red enamel between lugs.
PUMP | Bluemels “Airmaster” or “Tours-de-France” (18″ to order). “Brittanialloy” 15″ polished alloy (18″ to order.)
CASH PRICE (including £6-12-3 P. Tax) £33-15-8
“CYCLONE” FLYER (including £6-17-1 P. Tax) £35-0-6
(As “La Quelda” Flyer but with “Cyclone” Frame.)
“CYCLONE-DE-LUXE” FLYER (including £7-7-11 P. Tax) £37-16-4
(As “La Queida” Flyer, but with “Cyclone-de-Luxe” Frame.)
7

[Pages 6 and 7: photographs of the La Quelda Special Club and the La Quelda Flyer, both complete bicycles with mudguards, with their specifications and cash prices including Purchase Tax; the Cyclone and Cyclone-de-Luxe versions of each are priced below.]