Proud to be British
The Claud Butler bike brand can trace its history and experience in the UK cycle industry back over 135 years.
The story began in 1880 when Fred Hopper established a cycle repair business in a former blacksmith’s shop in Barton-on-Humber, no more than 12 miles from our current warehouse. Bicycle repairs soon gave way to manufacture and the business flourished. By 1906 F. Hopper & Co. was employing over 400 people, and by 1912 the company had developed export markets in Japan, India, South Africa and Australia. Shortly afterwards the company acquired the Elswick Cycle Company located near Newcastle, and in 1913 its name was changed to Elswick Hopper Cycle and Motor Company. In 1974 Elswick Hopper purchased Wearwell Cycles, a company so long established that reference to it could be found in the Bicycle Yearbook of 1872. In 1978 the Falcon Cycle Company was also acquired, and for some time it was operated as a subsidiary company.
That is just a very brief snap-shot of our past, but what we always prefer to focus on is our future. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience within our team working from the company’s headquarters, now based in Birmingham, England. One thing that has remained constant throughout all our history is our passion to build great bikes. That passion and, personal interest has helped us lead the way in product development and will ensure Claud Butler stays at the forefront of the cycle market.
From children’s bikes to mountain, touring, city, BMX, men’s bikes, women’s bikes, sports bikes and specialist lightweight racing thoroughbreds. Claud Butler creates all these and more, and into each goes the care and craftsmanship you would expect from a company with over a century of experience and an enviable reputation for quality.
