This Carlton International remains mint because, aside from a few brief test outings, it hasn’t been ridden since it left the brand’s Worksop factory 50 years ago. Instead, it has served as a two-wheeled sculpture, a poignant reminder, in these times of identikit carbon frames, of how the steel bike aesthetic, as well as the craftsmanship that spawned it, peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s.
The frame’s stand-out feature is, of course, its exquisite lugs. “The ornate lugs were hand-cut by Bob Keeling, a near legendary figure at the Carlton factory at that time,” confirms owner Dave Marsh. When he purchased the bike in 1975, the young Marsh was working at Carlton, building bikes.
“The International was my dream bike. Many regard the Jewel as Carlton’s flagship model, but…
