Tollis of Mascot - Any Info?

[WyvernRH]

Now I have more time on my hands I'm looking at a few projects that were sidelined over the years. One is a 'Tollis of Mascot' frame that was rescued from a barn, just the frame, no forks or anything else. The rear triangle had been bent badly And the paint is average. MAny years ago I got into it and staraightened the rear triangle and stuff and built it up with odd bits just to ride it - and then stripped it down and hung it up.




As you can see, a nice looking frame but a bit tatty. Although I can guarantee it's straight after fixing the rear end (ignore the forks, they are ring-ins from a Carlton.

Whatever, I thought it would be a good restoration project, keeping as the original paint with period parts - whatever that period may be.

I am having no luck finding out much about Tollis of Mascot on the web. A few photos of Tollis bikes and the shop seems to have been around until the late 70's but that is it.
Can anyone point me in the direction of more information? What sort of quality level am I looking at here?

This frame has Haden lugs/bottom bracket with custom 'T' head lugs and rear facing dropouts. The frame no 88446 is stamped under the bottom bracket. It has a standard 'European' headset not an ' English' in-frame cup setup as seems common on 50's Oz stuff so maybe 1960's?

The rear dropouts are in poor condition and while I can restore them, I would probably prefer to replace them either with road dropouts or better track dropouts and repaint the rear triangle. - Opinions appreciated.

So, help me out here, what should I do with it

Richard

[feelthewheel]

Great frame Richard! This thread has some answers, especially page 2. Might also be worth seeing if Cludence is still contactable.

https://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20105

[elantra]

Great frame Richard! This thread has some answers, especially page 2. Might also be worth seeing if Cludence is still contactable.

https://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20105

That’s a great thread - really interesting.
Must have been a good time to be building and selling bikes in the 50’s/60’s/70’s

[LG]

Great frame Richard! This thread has some answers, especially page 2. Might also be worth seeing if Cludence is still contactable.

https://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20105

Polite sharing of knowledge like in this linked thread is the reason I joined BNA years ago, it's always good to look back occasionally. Not sure how much more info on Tollis you're going to find Richard.

I must say I'm a little envious of your retirement and having the time to do justice to the bikes you've had in storage, it's what I'm aiming to do in another few years (as well as more hobby frame building).

[WyvernRH]

Wow, I'd forgotten about that thread - 17 years ago! Thanks for pointing that out to me folks.

However, lots of useful discussion and information re 1950's gearing systems but not too much about Tollis the shop or it's bikes. Mine is still the only Tollis I've seen with the 'T' lugs (not that I've seen many mind you). I know other builders incorporated the 'T' into their headlugs so I suppose there is an outside chance this is a one-off opportunistic repaint by Mr Tollis . I say repaint here specifically cos all the lettering is painted on, not decals.

So, if anyone can shed light on when and what the bike was for it would be great. Not a track bike, it has pump pegs and rear brake cable stops. Currently I'm going for late 50's early 60's single speed road bike, given it has back loading rear dropouts and 120mm (about) rear spacing (tho I set that when repairing the bike, might have been 110mm before it was damaged?)

I did find some info re Mr. Tollis senior from an odd page fragment which appeared to have something to do with the old Bicycle Museum.
<Quote>
Birth - 12269/1886 TOLLIS DONALD E REUBEN MARY WATERLOO

Marriage - 3057/1913 TOLLIS DONALD E THOMPSON RUBY M REDFERN

Death - 61600/1971 TOLLIS DONALD EDWIN REUBEN MARY PARRAMATTA

TOLLIS Donald Edwin Death notice 23JUL1971 Death late of North Rocks, formerly of Brighton-le-Sands Sydney Morning Herald 26JUL1971

Donald Edwin Tollis ‎(b 1887, d 1971)‎ opened for business at his 210 King St Mascot shop in 1922-it also was the family residence, Russell was born there in 1916. Donald made all his bicycle frames by hand, using Reynolds and BTM ‎(Aust.)‎ tubing. These were mostly double-butted, lugs were Brampton brazed on with heating assisted by an old-fashioned bellows. An electric fan superseded the bellows in about 1937. Donald had served an appropriate Apprenticeship as he had worked for Bennett and Barkell ‎(1916-18)‎, Wynall Cycles ‎(also Bennett and Barkell)‎, then Bennett and Wood where he made frames for Speedwell Cycles ‎(1918-22)‎.

Russell made his bicycles until 1978 when he retired I can ride Russell's last Tollis any more then I know it will be safe in Annemarie's care-in the Bicycle Museum where enthusiasts can appreciate Russell's craftsmanship.

Tollis, D.E. (M) Tollis, D.E., King Street, Mascot, 1916-1932
<End Quote>

The last two paragraphs are a bit confusing and may have been mangled.

Richard

[find_bruce]

Tollis Cycles via trove

TOLLIS CYCLES
of 210 King St., Mascot
"FIRST AND FOREMOST — THE LEADING CYCLE TODAY"
THE JUNIOR PREMIERSHIP OF N.S.W. WAS WON BY
"TOLLIS CYCLES, OF MASCOT"
The champion "Tollis" team of all N.S.W. — Noel Britt, Gordon Knowles, Dick Macdonald and Dave Smith, rode "Tollis Cycles of Mascot" to victory in the N.S.W. Professional Junior Premiership at Newcastle
You, too, can be first and foremost if you ride Tollis Cycles of Mascot — the most modern cycle in Australia today

A bit more info from the archive of the Canberra Bicycle Museum

[feelthewheel]

Great frame Richard! This thread has some answers, especially page 2. Might also be worth seeing if Cludence is still contactable.

https://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20105

Polite sharing of knowledge like in this linked thread is the reason I joined BNA years ago, it's always good to look back occasionally. Not sure how much more info on Tollis you're going to find Richard.

I must say I'm a little envious of your retirement and having the time to do justice to the bikes you've had in storage, it's what I'm aiming to do in another few years (as well as more hobby frame building).

Well said LG - it's also the reason I joined the forum. My experience has sadly been that (in general) cycling and vintage bicycles don't have much interest or respect, so being part of a helpful community is essential if our (ahem, cough) personal hoards of old bicycles, their parts and inherent historical/cultural worth are to be valued and cared for in the future.