Jack Taylor enamelled Frame

[mercianman]

This is a lovely frame with curly lugs, obviously of a quality for Jack Taylor to enamel and put his name on. He also added his own Tourist badge and distinctive double box lug lining. It is however not a Taylor frame. It is numbered 50366 vertically down the steerer and also across the underneath of the bottom bracket. It is quite distinctive for having used very small number. Anybody any ideas who might have made the frame?

[peetee]

It could be a Rotrax. They used that sort of head lug on some of their frames and the five figure frame No is right and suggests a 1950 build. Does the bottom bracket number follow the curve of the shell or is it stamped across it?

[mercianman]

The number is stamped across the BB, it uses very small numbers

[mercianman]

I have just had a look at the Rotrax lugs on classic lightweights web site. The ones on this frame seem to match their supercourse lugs, which can be seen on the head tube They also say that they used very small numbers, although they do say they were around the BB, rather than across it

[BrightonRock]

Beautiful frame. The lugs put me in mind of HR Morris, certainly ornate enough.

[mercianman]

It certainly is a lovely frame. I have looked up Morris, but it appears that their frame numbers started with a H. It might be that from a historical perspective, better to leave the frame as it is. There can’t be many around with enamelled by Jack Taylor decals on

[mercianman]

Don’t know if this helps, but this is the rear brake bridge

[pwa]

Just out of interest, what is the best way of conserving an old frame like that, where you want to retain the old paint? Should one apply something to give it a protective layer? Wax? Oil?

[Ugly]

Renaissance Wax, not cheap but is excellent, also very good on leather goods.

[Geoffrey]

Previous supposition was correct. Undoubtedly a Rotrax SuperCourse from 1950. The brake bridge is very distinctive both for the tangs and the central tubular reinforcement. Earlier SuperCourses did not have the cutout in the head lug.
I speak from some experience owning a '48 SuperCourse, '51 Vel d'Hiv, '54 Concours and a '57 La Premiere.
Lovely machine by the way. Leave the Taylor enamelling, if it isn't flaking badly it is so stylish. (If you must respray transfers and headbadges are available for Rotrax from Tim Maund in Southhampton.)