(Phil Hancock, Aug 2025).

I bought this frame on Ebay early 2025.Previously I had owned a Carpenter from the age of 16 some 69 years ago. We actually lived in Surbiton and I bought it second hand from Carpenter’s shop with saved up pocket money. It went somewhere soon after my marriage in 1963.

I loved that bike and still recall that it was a bronze colour with weinman brakes, mafac wheels, campag double changer, Williams chainset, Brooks saddle and Maes bars. I never raced but cycled with school mates (Tiffins) on their Holdsworths and Carltons on long days including Surbiton to Portsmouth and back (around 140 miles round trip). Never happier than when I was on my bike and so, so proud of it.

in later life I did the London-Brighton on a Sun several times and in an earlier life Surbiton-Cirencester (a ‘Century’ ride) on my Hercules at the age of  11 on my own in a day.

I had always wanted another Carpenter and In hindsight I think in truth that an original badge would have done! I an 86 and realise that I will not ride again nor will I rebuild this one. I will probably end up spraying it to the bronze colour I loved and affix the appropriate decals 

The seller found this frame in his late grandfather’s shed. Unfortunately he knew absolutely nothing about the bike’s history and had never seen it till he cleared the shed.

The frame size of #3881 is 51 cms, the top tube 68.5cms. the drop-outs 11 cms and the wheel base 102cms.