mtb-timeline

Claud Butler

Claud Butler (1903 - 1978) opened his first cycle shop in Battersea London, UK, in 1928 after first manufacturing bikes out of his garden shed. He quickly established his brand as the finest British lightweight bicycle, popular with cycling clubs and Olympic and lower level professional levels.

As with many long-lived cycling marques, many different owners have promoted the brand. Claud himself initially retired in 1958, selling the business to Holdsworth. Which was then acquired by Marlboro in 1985. And then sold to Falcon in 1987, which continues to hold it until today.^{1) 2)}

Resources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claud_Butler
• https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_builders/butler-claud/
• https://classicrendezvous.com/country-of-origin/the-british-isles/claud-butler/
• https://nkilgariff.com/ClaudButler.htm
• https://nkilgariff.com/claud-butler-model-catalogs/
• https://bikalog.org/
• https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/claud-butler-1989-brochure.204285/

The initial mountain bikes debuted in the summer of 1984 manufactured in the UK using Reynolds 531, which required lugs and brazing. Later models switched to Reynolds 500, 501, 653 and finally 7005 aluminium in 1993. By 1995, under Tandem ownership, manufacturing moved to Asia using unknown tubing.

Claud Butler, 1939, MC'ing one of his annual promotional parties.
https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_builders/butler-claud/

Claud Butler, 1935, hard at work. ebay

1984 Canyon

The Canyon first appeared in the 1985 Claud Butler catalog (as no 1984 catalog exists.) This is likely a 1984 version, with earlier components. Frame numbers of other examples show 1984 production dates.

The “story” is that Holdsworth bought a Stumpjumper to copy and produced some in the summer of 1984, using lugged Reynolds 531 tubing. Holdsworth went bankrupt the next year and Marlboro continued the Canyon in blue paint.

Lugged and hand brazed Reynolds 531 frame, SunTour MounTech GTL (1982-83), SR MTE-100 sliding seatpost (1983-85), 3×5 gearing, Nitto bullmoose bars, Dia-compe cantis, Forest Green, 29 pounds.

1984 Canyon retrobike

1985 Canyon

Nearly the same as the 1984 model, using later yet 1984 components. Lugged and hand brazed Reynolds 531 frame, SunTour MounTech 4900 (1982-84), 3×5 gearing, Nitto bullmoose bars, Dia-compe cantis, Forest Green, 29 pounds. It has the same SR MTE-100 seatpost, without the quick release. Other pics confirm this feature delete.

1985 Canyon, 1985 catalog shot https://bikalog.org/

1986 Canyon

SunTour AR II GT (1984-85) rear - should be MounTech?, MounTech front, Nitto bullmoose bars, Reynolds 531 lugged frame, Allez cranks, seat & post. Royal Blue.

1986 Canyon retrobike

1987 Cape Wrath

A 1987 Matterhorn was supposedly offered with a higher spec, but none have been found. Full Shimano XT M730, Reynolds 531 lugged frame, Tange fork, Specialized saddle, Shark Fin, u-brake rear and only in black.

1987 Cape Wrath, 1987 catalog shot https://bikalog.org/

1989 Pagan

Shimano Exage Country (1988-89), Reynold 500 lugged frame, no rear QR, Aqua Green/White.

1989 Pagan retrobike

1990 Shaman

Shimano 300 LX (1990-92), orange lugged Reynolds 501 tubing, cantilevers front and rear. Orange. No 1990 catalog exists and the Shaman only in the 1989 catalog with Exage SIS in blue & white and in the 1991 catalog with Shimano LX 550 in Lupin Blue.

1990 Shaman retrobike

1991 Shaman

Shimano Deore LX, Lupin Blue, lugged Reynolds 501 frame.

1991 Shaman retrobike

1992 Spectre

Reynolds 531 Magnum lugged frame, Shimano Exage 500 LX group, 31.5 pounds. The 1992 catalog shows a yellow frame with the color name of “pearlescent amethyst.”

1992 Spectre retrobike

1993 Vantage

Shimano Altus C10 (1993), Aluminium frame. The Vantage doesn't appear in the 1993 catalog, nor is it offered in green stripes in any catalog. The components and sticker scheme place this circa 1993.

1993 Vantage retrobike