Bob:
Ken Denny may correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe these fork ends were developed as a self-protection device as special-order for those denizens of the British Isles whose property was located perilously close to the Welsh border. With such an appurtenance, if one of the savage Picts were to invade your cottage, you could defend your honor and your property by fending them off with your deadly fork ends.
Chris Beyer Protecting my Virtue in Bloomfield, NJ
Bob Reid wrote:
> The most recent Flying Scot I bought (circa 1959) came with those rather
> lethal looking fork ends - the ones with a sharp pointed tip on the trailing
> edge curving back towards the rear of the bike. My instant thought was
> that these would allow quicker wheel changes - no real need to be spot on
> locating the wheel as the spinsle will get pushed into the centre of the
> slot anyway.
>
> Anyone like to comment ? I'm particularly interested in the story behind
> the introduction and the eventual demise of these ends.
>
> p.s. If no one knows what I'm talking about I've posted an image on my
> website, at http://freespace.virgin.net/
>
> Bob Reid
> Stonehaven
> Scotland.