Bill Hurlow

Worksop, Nottingham, England

William Bertram “Bill” Hurlow was considered the “builder’s builder.” He made frames under his own name as well as for other shops, including Condor, Mal Rees, Claude Butler, Freddie Grubb & Sam Cotten. Bill Hurlow died Sunday, Feb 28th, 2010 in Canterbury Hospital.

Hurlow serial number Registry

Updated 10.21.2022

A friend and riding companion, John Hunt reports:
“I think he knocks all other frame builders into a cocked hat! He’s done so much & his memory is incredible. He remembers what weather conditions in a time trial were like in 1938 & who won it, what time & who was fifth. There isn’t anybody on the frame building scene between say 1930 & 1970 that he doesn’t know, either them or their work.”
“He was innovative…. he invented the “fastback”, seat stays shot into the allen key housing. He started frame building at Condor & then him & Monty Young had some sort of bust-up. He built for Holdsworth & then in later years acted as a consultant for them. He was racing until 5 years ago!”
“He’s very particular & has thought just about everything out about conventional frames. He invented jigs that no-one else has ever thought about for quick accurate frame-building.”

Hilary Stone adds:
“He worked for some of the best known British builders including Grubb and Claud Butler. His best known work was however done for Condors and Mal Rees.”

Bill's lug work for Condor

From 1962 Cycling Weekly article.

Hand cut lug work

From 1970s Bike World magazine.

Early 1970s road bike

From 1970s Bike World magazine

Hurlow WBH lug set

Courtesy Peter Brown

WBH lug pattern on bike

Hurlow #16621

Track bike #164235

(on display in cycles de ORO Bike Shop)

Hurlow touring bike #16915

(on display in cycles de ORO Bike Shop)

David Benson's classic road machine #16918

Diana Byrne's #16945

Original owner was Macy Allen of Baltimore, Md. one of the founding members of the Baltimore Bicycle Club in the mid 1960's.

Full chrome, part "brushed", part polished, part paint #17011

Kevin Kruger's full chrome Hurlow#172102

Eric Baker's bike, made for Sam Cotten by Bill Hurlow

Cotten-Hurlow #7749

Original owner was Newcomb Barger, now owned by his son of the same name.

Pictures courtesy Mike Green, Magelssen Sykkel West Hollywood, California