1930s Cortina X Frame Road Racer (Components Ltd / Ariel Patent)

1930s Cortina X Frame Road Racer

(Components Ltd Patent)

Made in The Netherlands

24″ Frame

28 x 1/2″ Wheels

Freewheel with Coaster brake

This Dutch X Frame uses the patent registered to Charles Sangster and his company ‘Components Ltd’ in 1901. It was used by the Ariel Cycle Co for the sale of complete machines, and also supplied in component form through the cycle trade.

In the early 1900s, Raleigh dominated the market for X frames, while Components Ltd and Centaur were their main competitors. After Raleigh gave up production of their X Frame in Britain in the 1930s, the model continued to be sold in The Netherlands. Other Dutch companies built X frames using the Centaur patent, so it’s interesting to find this one which in essence is a 1908 Ariel with 1930s continental fittings. Ariel Cycle Co was still selling bicycles until the early 1930s, so I wonder if they sent their X frames to The Netherlands when their cycle production ceased?

The rare machine is an older restoration with modern wheelset in excellent condition and ready to ride.