> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 11:19:37 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [CR]Bowden brakes
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>
>
> "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."
>
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. Same for tensioned spokes. 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. I would guess it was originally developed for bicycles, but a good argument could be made that butted tubing was originally developed for aircraft.
Sorry, no facts, just more speculation.
Dave