W.B Hurlow
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.”
