Claud Butler

Claud Butler (14 July 1903 – 2 November 1978) was a London-based bicycle dealer and frame-builder, who from 1928 created a chain of bicycle-retail shops in London and the Midlands. His company was one of the most successful of the inter-war era but failed after World War II and the resultant boom in motor buses and motor cars. The Claud Butler brand was bought from the receivers by other companies, and they are now produced by Falcon Cycles, a division of Tandem Group.

Early years

Claud Butler was the son of a worker in the silk industry who thought his son would follow him into the trade. He worried about giving it his own name, which he thought effeminate.

1957–1987 Holdsworth ownership A number of cycle manufacturers showed interest in purchasing the brand and assets. Two were Adam Hill of Hill and Hill Special, and Holdsworth. Adam Hill had used the economic downturn to his advantage and expanded his business by acquiring the Merlin name from Ernie Merlin. In late 1956 he travelled to London and bought the rights to the Claud Butler and to the Saxon name, which Butler also owned. Claud Butler frames continued to sell well, and in some instances, outsold their Holdsworth counterparts.

Falcon 1987 to present

Elswick Hopper throughout the 1970s acquired brands including Wearwell (1974) and Falcon (1978). In 1982 the agglomerated firm was restructured and renamed Elswick-Falcon Cycles. It bought the Holdsworth and Claud Butler names in February 1987. These acquisitions brought with them a change to volume production with the Claud Butler and Holdsworth brands reserved for the premium frames in the new range.