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3/32 chain and 4 speed block, Benelux was advertised as 13-23t, but most would be probably up to 20 in real life.
Indeed riders back then were built like brick-houses, none of this weight weenie stuff of today :)
Foreigner65-
It might be possible to use a five block and set the mech to work on the bottom four sprockets.
Four speed blocks are pretty rare since fives came along quickly. You 'd be lucky to find a four with the sprockets you want, whereas a 14-22 five is probably the commonest size, the problem would be getting your mech to reach the 22, but it does seem possible.
Hmm, 48 x 22 with 27" wheels comes to 58.9". Not great for the Chilterns, but that looks like it's as low as you'll get with the 48 ring.
clubman
Benelux
Have you got an 1/8th or 3/32" chain?
If 3/32, all I know is that the Simplex TdF (fairly similar) claims to be able to go up to 24 teeth, but these 'plunger' type mechs always seemed find big sprockets challenging!
If 1/8th, I doubt if you will be able to find much above 21 teeth - three speed blocks 16/19/21 are still around, but I couldn't find anything bigger when I was looking.
It seems riders were tough back in the fifties - I suppose if you started your cycling life on fixed, having a (bottom) gear in the high fifties seemed perfectly reasonable.