1951 Elswick Hopper ‘Model W’ Butcher’s Bike
I visited my friend Greg’s yard recently and when I spotted the Elswick hanging in a corner in all its rusty glory I could not help myself. Some healthy haggling ensued, for example:
Greg: ‘At that price it may as well hang there for another 10 years.’
Me: ‘But I could buy a trade bike for that price that isn’t rusty.’
But in the end we agreed on a price, backed Greg’s pick-up truck as close as possible without denting his Jag, perilously climbed up to hold the bike and – appropriately – I used a meat cleaver to cut the rope to get it down.
On the next sunny day, I’ll take some photos. By the way, I won’t restore it at all cosmetically. All I’ll do is make it rideable and install a basket …and maybe make an extra sign to fix to the front saying ‘The Oily Rag Club.’
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How fascinating – the guarantee on this 1951 Elswick Hopper Model W only ran out 7 years ago!
The complete catalogue for Elswick Hoppers of this year is on the
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I used to own another Elswick Hopper Model W, into which I installed a Cyclemaster engine. I sold it in summer 2008. I did not get round to finishing its restoration, so I’m looking forward to getting on with my new rusty one. I’ll look for some rusty accessories 
You can see more of the Cyclemaster-powered Elswick at the
