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The frame number, it had been covered in grease, I would never have thought to look there.
So the forks match I couldn't be happier..

I built up the frame with odds and ends to make sure threads were good and to ensure specs were right.
27.2mm seat tube fitted as per all Gillott's.
BB threads all good. I have had a BSA double tapered set of cranks ready for this for years.
Dropout spacing correct for a set of Chater lea hubs, when I finally finish building them up. I'm waiting for the correct size spokes as I bought the wrong length the first time round.
Steerer seemed very long, however it fitted fine and low behold when I cleaned up the threads on the steerer.!

The steerer after a good polish

The one on the left is 1954 with 27" rims the one on the left is the 46 with sprints note the Longer head tube but shorter forks.

yes it sure is those tangs on the seat lug give it away, according to Mark Stevens. I love the fuss free clean and straightforward design of the spearlugs.
So it arrived on Monday and I was very keen to see what I had bought.
Had it originally been a road frame, what was the story with the forks?
First up geometry, which was definitely track orientated, however the angles were not quite so acute and the slender chainstays and seat stays definitely suggest road racing, probably TT.
Huge rear dropouts and very tight clearances So much so that 27" rims wouldn't fit at all which is unusual for a bike of this age, so it's tubs all the way.
There were no sign of any braze ons either so although I'm no expert I was pretty sure it had been built specifically with horizontal dropouts in mind but was designed for road racing.
As for the forks I was sure they were also part of the original frame so started cleaning the steerer with polish etc looking for any sign of a frame number.

So this frame has been hanging around for a while now it was on the Gillott Facebook page and on Ebay but went unsold.
Why?

1. Well for one it was expensive.
   
2. All the paint had been stripped off. Suggesting damage or repairs.
   
3. The forks were oval to round (unusual for a bike with horizontal rear dropouts), coupled with this. was the fact that, there was no frame number in evidence on the steerer.
   
4. There were stories that the original owner had crashed it. (His name is printed on the rear dropouts). The frame came with lots of paperwork, magazine cutouts and race cards from the days of yore, but nothing specific, linking the bike with the paperwork or the cyclist.
   
5. The front nearside dropout had a crack in it.
   
   

Erh..! apart from that a great bike.!
I spoke to the eBay seller and told him there was a crack in the dropout, as it wasnt mentioned in the description.
He discontinued the auction and I would have left it at that, however inspired by a frame I had bought for a friend recently, which also had oval to round forks on a track/path frame and matching frame numbers I bought the Gillott.

A.S Gillott Spearpoint 946171
So built in 1946 and the 171st frame made by them since they opened in 1945

As per the title really, does need to be in good condition with a bearing span of 52mm or there abouts.

Apologies for dredging up an 8 year old post, however I am in need of a Stronglight 314 axle, the bearing surfaces need to be in good condition with a bearing span of 52mm.
I would consider an alternative.
Cheers

The loaf looks lovely, I'm not sure what you meant by holding back on 100g water this week.?
Can I ask what hydration percentage that loaf was please thanks

Wow, it's not the distance that surprises me it's the fact that he's using such a cumbersome gearing mechanism in 1956 when surely.there were better options available.

Superb.

They don't stay clean for long with the roads in this condition. As for the orange tape I have no excuse.
The trouble is that this is the only, or the most practical bike I own so it does take a lot of obuse.

Hinds, I don't know much about it,
though I do know the original paint work came up a peach, the original wheels were still in tact. The only items replaced were tyres and brake cable.
It was taken to Welling cycles in Welling Kent for a service. It's a father son outfit and has been for a long time. It turns out the dad who used to race back in the day, knew this brand "Hinds"very well.

Thanks for offer @7ven
I always need a ton of stuff, but must resist.

27 1.14 inch wheels, which were a better fit than sprint's.

Thanks @SideshowBob, couple more pics

I have two friends that have just got into vintage bikes, not sure if it a good thing or not.
Anyway one has bought a Hinds on my recommendation which turned out a treat.
The other bought this, again on my recommendation.
Looks great however it is a little strange.

1. No mudguard eyes front and back
   2.oval forks
   
2. Small track ends
   
3. Track ends look quite modern
   
4. Thin chain stays
   
5. Reynolds R1 seat post
   
6. BB oiler nut has been painted over
   
   

Good points
Nervex lugs
Frame numbers match thank god.
It has a name on the down tube.
No other braze ons anywhere.
Pictures to follow including wheel clearances with sprints and 27 1.1/4.

For me you can go to great expense and time picking out period correct components, rechroming, polishing and painting the frame, choosing transfers etc, putting all these bits together and somehow the bike still doesn't sit right, or look whole as it were.
Your C. Bertrand on the other hand looks great as it is, the parts seem to gel and the bike looks fresh and ready to go.
Particularly like the fact that it looks so modern.
I don't know anything about the brand, Is it French.?
No it isn't..!
it turns out C Bertrand is from Finchley.

As usual @clubman you have hit the nail on the head, I was quite happy.to ride the chainset as it was and save some money for a new set of spd shoes and would have done, however I was concerned by the shorter crank length.
Undismayed though as I was getting irritated by the amount of times I had struggled to get the 49D cranks off, with some problem or another as I don't have a proper tool for it.
But after almost finishing fitting the C34 cranks plus associated Bayliss axle @veloham contacted me with a single speed TA adaptor that he had spied on Ebay that I couldn't refuse.
So the adaptor is on its way plus a 46t 1/8 152bcd chainring from France are on there way to me as we speak.
All I will need are the 6 bolts to attach the chainring to the Adaptor.

Yes you may have a point to be fair...!

So after my chainring disintegrated, I intended on replacing it with a TA adaptor and new chainring attached to the Stronglight cranks, however in the end I thought i would just raid the parts bin for a suitable chainset.
It would need to be reliable, maintenance free and geared for cycling up and down Blackheath hill everyday.
I found this.
Williams C34 46t.1/8.
Back to basics

Good call @SideshowBob
A friend of mine through caution to the wind and bought this.
It's his first vintage bike and it will be his first foray into fixed wheel.
Should be fun.

Useful thanks.

Gillott changed the position of the frame number in 1951 from both rear dropouts to underneath the BB. Consequently your frame number is in the correct position.
Looking at some similar frames on MS Flickr page I suspect your rear dropouts are original there is definitely no reason to suspect they are not.
As for the front dropouts, I'm not sure it does seem like a money saving excercise.

Evidence is here.
Seems we are struggling to get hold of basic items such as bicycle spokes let alone complex medicines and NHS staff etc.!