Swallow Tandem

[DeepdalePete]

So I've been asked by a close friend to enquire about a Swallow Toucan Tandem.

It is the most stunning 531 frame with an eliptical top tube and the most fantastic lugs with gold detailing.

It has embossed Swallow (Pictures of the bird) throughout.

Has Mavic 48h rims with a rear hub brake and a built in cooler for the rear brake.

There is another similar one on the Bay at the moment but the frame is nowhere near as nice as this one.

Any info would be most welcome.

He's looking to sell it but like me, has no idea where to start with it.

We believe that it was ordered custom built in the late 80's early 90's.

[robgul]

You could start by asking Pete Bird at Swallow (yep, that's his name) about the machine's provenance. Swallow is at Ironbridge - Google and you'll find it.

Rob

[hoppy58]

These were built by Pete Bird, in Llanrhaedr ym mochnant, near Oswestry. He's still going, but relocated to Ironbridge Shropshire, and builds Landescape Tandems.

https://www.thetandemshop.com/our-history/

[reohn2]

Swallow tandems were well built,highly regarded in their time,and still are.The one on Ebay is cheap because of the sizes it's built for giants .
If the seller's bike is a more normal size say 22in/19 or 17in and in as good a condition as stated it should be worth approaching £1,000 I would think.

[roubaixtuesday]

Second the suggestion to go back to the makers for info. I was chatting with the other half of Swallows, Rob, last week, and he tells me they no longer build tandems due to lack of suitable tubing. The Landescape ones are aluminium, imported from Czech republic. They also commission carbon ones from a French producer.

I have a very similar machine to the one described, newly refurbished by them. Rob said it would be c. £4000 now to build such a frameset if tubing were available. I doubt you'll get that for yours second hand mind!

[DeepdalePete]

Thanks everyone.

I hadn't expected so much useful and detailed information in such a short space of time.

I have no doubt that to build one to this level today would be a small fortune.

The condition on his is excellent and I think it's worth about a thousand pounds.

I will get some photos and send them to Pete with the frame number.

I'll also post some photos on here at the weekend.

Once again, thanks to all.

[9494arnold]

Might raise some interest with The Tandem Club ?

[eileithyia]

Thanks everyone.

I hadn't expected so much useful and detailed information in such a short space of time.

I have no doubt that to build one to this level today would be a small fortune.

The condition on his is excellent and I think it's worth about a thousand pounds.

I will get some photos and send them to Pete with the frame number.

I'll also post some photos on here at the weekend.

Once again, thanks to all.

Indeed, to build one costs a fortune, my secondhand Mercian cost me £1000 22 years ago, a more recent refurb and new kit also cost in the region of £1000. So a new would be quite a bit of money.
Good suggestiosn re contacting Swallow and Tandem Club.

[DeepdalePete]

Contacted Swallow and they confirmed it was a custom build from 1989.

Will be selling soon for somewhere in the £750 range with the spare wheels.