Holdsworth
Currently:
132 Lower Richmond Road, London, United Kingdom
+44 20 8788 1060 holdsworthcycles.co.uk
Holdsworth was a name to be known, founded in 1933 by W.F. “Sandy” Holdsworth in Kent, it rapidly expanded into a multi-shop enterprise. By 1960’s & 70’s, the main stores and factory were in London. Holdsworth bought the Claud Butler brand name in 1958. They bought the Freddie Grubb name around 1952 after Grubb had died. Finally, the Macleans name was bought around 1963.
The Holdsworthy empire was bought up in the middle/late 80s by the same group that owned Falcon and they became part of the big Townsend group of which the only survivor is now Falcon with the Claud Butler brand name. The Putney shop W F Holdsworth has had nothing to do with the original company for many, many years and their frames were branded Roy Thame. These have not been built for at least 15 years.
In the 1970s The British Pro team, co-sponsored by Campagnolo & Holdsworth, was dominant on the domestic UK front…and the company was a prime agent for many important brands, both as retailer and wholesaler.
Thanks for additional info from Hilary Stone
“Stopped in a shop on Battersea Rise in South London to buy a bike for my 2,300 mile ride through the U.K., Ireland, Belgium and France. My eyes popped out over the orange and blue bikes on the rack in the front window, and popped even more when I saw the price, so I settled for the silver and blue Holdsworth Record, which rode beautifully for the entire trip.”
” That was in September of ’75, and that has been my one and only bike and dearest companion until recently, when I said to myself, ‘time to go back and get the orange and blue one” Michael Lebron
” …..we bought (the Holdsworth) in 1984 when my wife was still my girlfriend :). Many of the Zeus 2001 parts that were originally on the Cuevas (crank, bb, brakes, hubs) found their way on to the Holdsworth. Recently, I suggested we restore it with all Campy parts. Man, I won’t do that again. She has a serious sentimental attachment to the bike AS IS. But maybe I can talk her into replacing those Shimano shifters.” Greg Pitman
