1947 Claud Butler Tandem
This tandem showcases the true engineering genius and artistry of Claud Butler.
This short wheelbase tandem rides like a dream both on the road and on the velodrome.
By building this tandem with clamp-on brakes, and tucking short chain-stays under the stoker, this bike handles great when raced on steeply banked tracks, and is still safe and comfortable to leisurely ride on the open road.
The fillet brazed joints and gracefully curved tubing were some of the finest examples in craftsmanship of the era.
Claud Butler started as a London bike shop owner and frame-builder in 1928. His company was one of the most successful of the inter-war era with his racing bikes grabbing attention at World championships and Olympic games in the 1930s. Ultimately the brand failed in the 1950s as changing British lifestyles and a changing economy took their toll.