Catalogue description Frame records (bundles)

Every frame or complete bicycle that was produced in P T Stallard's workshop between 1945 and 1972 was followed by a growing bundle of records, and virtually all of them survive. These bundles record the history of each item produced, from the inquiry to the delivery, and often well beyond. Repair dockets were collated with the production records, and we can see cycles being repaired or refurbished, sometimes during a decade or more from the date of delivery. The owner of a Stallard frame will almost certainly be able to trace the number stamped on it in these records. Some production took place also before the second world war, but of this only one tiny glimpse survives. The last entry in the series refers to a pre-war Stallard frame that was returned for re-enamelling in 1960! The numbers are organised in annual series, according to the year in which the frames were made. From 1945 until 1947 the first digit of the frame number corresponds to the last digit of the year, followed by one, two or three digits, giving the actual production number. From 1948 until 1957 the year number is derived in the same way, but now followed by three digits, so that the first frame is number 8001 etc. From 1958 until 1972 the year is indicated by the last two digits of the year in inverse order, giving 1958 as 85 etc. The only exception is 1967 which is given as 67. In later years the model was indicated in addition, by way of a prefix, without interfering with the sequence of the frame numbers. For instance, a Montlhery built in 1961 might be given the reference M16276.