Tom wrote ;
.......Then Rod Kronenberg asked me what the function of the clip is. Again I haven't a clue.
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Think of the function of the modern integrated headset - some xxx years earlier ! Basically a head assembly with integrated "holders" for seperate bearing races.
In order from top to bottom you generally have ;
- A top locknut - used for adjusting the bearing play when the headclip is loosened ;
- A tabbed locking washer ;
- A Headclip - basically a large bolted clamp that when tightened not only retained the bearing assembly in place, but clamped the handlebar stem into the fork steerer tube, and also contained the upper race of the top bearing set.
- Lot's of minscule loose bearing !
- The lower race of the top bearing set, recessed in the top of the expanded head tube
Down to the bottom of the head tube now
- The upper race of the bottom bearing set, again recessed in the bottom of the expanded head tube
- Again lot's of miniscule loose bearings
- and finally a conventional fork crown race !
Forks for machines that originally had headclips are usually quite easily recognised in that they have a long 'T' shape cut through the steerer at the top to allow the tube to compress onto the handlebar stem, on tightening the headclip and also there was only about 3/8" at the most of the top of the steerer tube threaded. I've seen headtubes for headclips with integrated recesses and no visible join, but also conventional straight headtubes with traditional top and bottom cups brazed in place.
In the UK at least by the late 40s, this very 1930s style was almost extinct on solo machines being replaced by traditional "modern" headsets. Tandems used them for quite a few years longer. Common makes were by Chater-Lea and Brampton etc.
Bianchi in Italy used a similar arrangement into the 1950s ? (Chuck / Steven / Aldo) ?, and they even patented a manufacturing process to produce the necessarry flared head tubes to take the bearing races, and top and bottom lugs formed from a single piece of sheet steel....
Bob Reid
Stonehaven
Scotland