Condor

“In the heart of London, at 90 Grays Inn Road, W.C.1, is the modest facade of progressive, increasingly popular Condor Cycles.”

“Their workshop, presided over by W. B. (Bill) Hurlow, is located at a less congested site little more than a mile away, at 211 Balls Pond Road, N. 1. 5 First class craftsmanship and up-to-date design have been the key notes of a reputation built up in the past five to six years and, as is the case with many lightweight specialists, Condor Cycles have based their business on a variety of frames rather than attempting to provide complete machines to standard specifications for their knowledgeable customers.
The Condor catalogue shows four major designs – path, road-path, road racing and Italian road racing – and gives examples of the measurements of these designs. Reynolds 531 tubing, incidentally, is used throughout, but heavy gauge 531 is incorporated in road racing frames only at extra cost.”

“The 22 in. path model has 73′ parallel angles, a 22 1/2 in. top tube, .short rigid rear triangle with 17 in. x 1 in. round chain stays and 1/2 in. wrap-over seat stays; long path ends give maximum scope for chain adjustment. Front forks are round section with a 1 3/4 in. gradual rake. Bottom bracket height with 27in. wheels is 11 in. and, unless specified, there is no mudguard clearance, brake fitting facilities or any brazed-on items. Internal stiffening liners can be tilted to both….”

“It is in the lug work that the strength and appearance of a frame chiefly lies; and, too, it is mostly the lug work which dictates the price of each frame. Condor Cycles fit eight different lug sets, only two of which – the Nervex Professional and Italia Standard – are produced out side their own workshop. Their own half dozen sets are hand cut, from plain lugs to combine maximum lightness with as large a brazing area as possible thus ensuring a stronger and more rigid joint – Mr. Hurlow has been responsible for these designs. All frames are completed with T. D. Cross head sets, Bayliss Wiley Featherweight bottom bracket sets and alloy seat pillar. Finishes include any colour enamel, lustre or flamboyant, with contrasting seat panel and lug lining. The W.B.H. Italia, by the way, has an enamel finish only, without lug fining, with 6 in. chrome front and rear ends, dual crown and head lugs Italian style seat panel.”

“Wheels and Saddles:
“Frames apart, Condor Cycles are proud indeed of two other features in cycle manufacture, wheel building and saddle design. Their catalogue contains an extract from the official magazine of The Council of Industrial Design following the testing of a 27 oz. sprint wheel, hand built by Montgomery Young of Condor Cycles. An axle load of more than 1,200 lb., more than 700 times the weight of the wheel – was sustained before slight inelastic distortion occurred.”
“The Condor-Brooks saddle, a recently instituted item, is already in wide demand. Its basis is the Brooks B17 Special perforated model……….. An appreciable amount of leather is removed from the back end, more from the peak. Larger rivets are used to ensure that the seat is still firmly gripped. With either a polished or matte finish the new design, comfortable in use and pleasing to the eye, costs 58s. inclusive of a plastic under-seat protector.”