Re: [CR]Mechanical Elements originally used on bikes

(Example: Framebuilders:Jack Taylor)

In-Reply-To: <97.2928a0dd.2a3f9bdd@aol.com>
References: <97.2928a0dd.2a3f9bdd@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 16:20:14 -0400
To: DSandelands@aol.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Sheldon Brown" <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Mechanical Elements originally used on bikes


> > From: Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com>
>
> > "This thread reminds me of something I've been meaning to post to the list.
>> Unfortunately I'm not posting any useful information here, and this isn't
>> really a specific question. What I am wondering is this: How many of the
>> simple mechanical elements of other types of equipment were first used on
>> bikes. I don't know about any of these things for certain, and these are
>> just examples, but how about, ball bearings, roller chains, tensioned
>> spokes, pneumatic tires, drawn steel tubing, "Bowden" cables. Are there
>> others even more basic like the set screw, the threaded lockring etc?
>> Given when bikes developed in the "mechanical age" even things (processes)
>> like rolled threads may first have been used in building bikes. Does anyone
>> have any actual facts to back up my speculation? I'm hoping this will
>> promote some discussion of "old bikes" since we are sometimes accused of
> > ignoring this subject."

An anonymous AOLer guessed:
>Since the industrial revolution was well under way in Britain prior to the
>appearance of the bicycle, I would guess that certainly ball bearings, chain
>drives (but not roller chains), and drawn tubing were well known prior to the
>development of the bicycle. The pneumatic tire and tensioned spokes are an
>interesting question as I would think they would have first been developed
>either for bicycles or automobiles. Since bicycles preceded automobiles (but
>not by much) and certainly there would have been a need to improve over solid
>rubber tires, I would guess the pneumatic tire would have been first
>developed for bikes.

Pretty good for guesswork. Dr Dunlop is generally given credit for the pneumatic tyre, for his son's tricycle.
>Same for tensioned spokes.

These are commonly attributed to Starley, but it's possible that they were previously used in water wheels.
>Rolled threads strike me as
>something that would have superceeded cut threads only when the requirements
>of mass production created the need. Thus, I would guess there development is
>not related to the bicycle. Butted tubing is another interesting question one
>that could probably be answered by going to the Reynolds website.

Butted tubing was introduced around 1900, before the birth of the aircraft industry.
>I would
>guess it was originally developed for bicycles, but a good argument could be
>made that butted tubing was originally developed for aircraft.

No it couldn't.

Sheldon "Facts, Not Guesses" Brown Newtonville, Massachusetts +-------------------------------------------------+ | There is something fascinating about science. | | One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture | | out of such a trifling investment of fact. | | --Mark Twain | +-------------------------------------------------+
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