At 11:19 AM -0700 6/14/02, Tom Dalton wrote:
>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?
Since you posted twice about it I'll make a quick post. I've seen drawings of ball bearing going back at least 500 years, roller chains were used in machinery well before they were used for bicycles, same with tensioned spokes (I'm fairly sure). Ah, but pneumatic tires are a fine invention of Dunlop to soften the ride of his "safety." Drawn steel tubing was also before bicycles, but I think butted was specifically for bicycle use by Reynolds in the early-30s. I don't know about the "Bowden" cables. Set screws and threaded lockrings go back at least 2000 years. If you need more info I can provide it later, but now I'm off to surf. ciao, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives Heading off to ride, just not my bike in Santa Barbara, Calif.