Vintage Claude Butler

[Sudler]

Could anyone give me an idea of the value to a vintage (1950/60) Claude Butler road bike? It was my Grandfather's bike - a passionate member of Barnet cycling club for many years. Unfortunately i don't share his passion and it seems a shame for it to live unused in my garage. Not being a member of the cycling community i do not know where to go to find it a home at an appropriate value. It's in excellent condition, has a Brookes leather saddle and Simplex linkage bits.
Thanks to anyone that can give me an idea of value.

[gar]

I know nothing about bikes but the general principles of selling/auctioneering should apply.
To know what your reserve price should be:

Is it in

1) Mint
2) Excellent
3) Very Good
4) Good
5)Poor

Condition.?

Have you heard of other Claude Butlers of that time going for fancy prices?

I have just sold a Motorbike on Ebay, and I got more or less what I wanted/expected for it.
There was only one real buyer at the price and it was not a perfect market.

This is a very good time to sell on Ebay (December Xmas presents). You need half a dozen photos at different angles and of the best "bits" of the bike

Put the highest reserve price on that you think viable, and you will probably get an accurate valuation from the market itself.

You can decide whether to let it go below Reserve price once the auction is closed after ten days.

NOW and on Ebay would be the ideal way.

How much do YOU think it is worth, without giving the game away?

[gar]

let us know here the exact details of the sale and you may find a bidder from here as well.

also if you have not done ebay before let me know
as there are one or two things you have to watch for, to get the best out of it.... I didn't!

[gar]

Was this particular vintage of Claude Butler
a limited edition?
Is there any way of telling the number built/sold?

If the answer is yes to both questions then you have
a much better idea of the reserve price to set on it.

[Sudler]

Thanks Gar and Roadrunner this has given me some good pointers. i've seen nothing on e-bay to give me an idea but if i set a very decent reserve, as you say, the market will shows itself. i have also been studying the vintage section of cycling weekly but seen nothing similar (not that i can tell anyway). i know that my grandfather had the frame tailor made so perhaps i can contact the company. the handle bars are also special in some way - i think they are track cycling bars from an earlier period. the bike itself is in 'excellent' condition with only minor paint chips. thanks again, and once i have a value i'll definately post it on this site as well.

[gar]

i think they are track cycling bars from an earlier period. the bike itself is in 'excellent' condition with only minor paint chips.

If you can photo the bars and do a special picture of that, it also helps sell. Photo all these special bits and say why they are special on the Auction site along side the photo.

i know that my grandfather had the frame tailor made Must make a difference to sale reserve value.

It is only my humble opinion that you won't have a value until the close of the auction that you conduct. (the last few hours are crucial and you really have to sit and wait on that day in front of the pc.)

The reserve price is best kept to yourself, but please do let us know of your auction reference number when you have finally put it on.

You can only really run one auction between now and the festive season. Otherwise you could have run a second one, if the first did not meet your Reserve.

New year and you won't sell anything to anybody for more than half its value until
May or June....

Sounds quite an interesting bike for the connoisseur

g

[gar]

1)Brookes leather saddle and Simplex linkage bits

2) frame tailor made

3)track cycling bars from an earlier period

4)Grandfather's bike - a passionate member of Barnet cycling club (pre '60s) Unused since 60's


5) around £500-£750

[nella]

I think you had better set your stick nearer to £350 to £400. Grab it and run like hell!

[gar]

Y do u say that price range?

[nella]

My estimate was rather generous. based on the fact that a seller at a recent cycle jumble sale gave me two Claud Butler frames FREE. He couldn't sell them and couldn't be bothered to take them home again. Besides how many League Boys rode CB's in the 'fifties and 'sixties. Not many I suspect. I don't remember them being the most popular, being more on a par with the "Norman Invader" and "Phillips Vox Popular" models. All three being household names and being purchased by Dad for his son's "first racer".