Thanks Griff that fits the description of the chainset we saw on the Taylor. How long were these Wedgelocks made for and was there a patent. Unfortunately it was chucking it down with rain on the day that we saw it so could'nt find much about it or take a photo. Would greatly appreciate the details from "The Cycling Handbook" on this chainset if anyone has a copy with it in. Pat Hanlon's were a really popular frame around North London and Hertfordshire (Norland Combine) in the late 50's and early 60's. She was a wonderful lady and a superb wheel builder. Have not seen one in ages.
Best wishes and be lucky. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.
>From: GRIFFKS@aol.com
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Wedgelock........unusual cotterless cranks?
>Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 14:39:35 EST
>
>Micks question on the Wedgelock cranks got me thinking back to my first
>real
>proper bike (a 1959 Pat Hanlon) this machine was equipped with a cotterless
>alloy chainset that had a TA 5 pin double adapter plate coupled to 51/47
>rings,
>however what was unusual about the chainset was its bottom bracket axle, it
>was hollow right through and at each end the squared taper was literally
>halved
>diagonally like a wedge with an internal thread on one end, half on the
>axle
>and half on the "wedge"............the idea was that you positioned the
>cranks
>in place and then inserted the axle wedges in position, a long bolt with a
>14mm hexagonal head then went through the opposite end of the axle to the
>threaded end and as you tightened the bolt it pulled the wedges along the
>taper thus
>securing the cranks in place. To remove the cranks you simply undid the
>bolt
>and they came off the axle without the need for a crank remover. I was told
>by
>a clubmate that these cranks were also called Wedgelock, has anyone else
>come
>across or heard of this style at all, indeed were they Wedgelock? they had
>no logo's or inscription but were well finished (looked similar to the TA
>cranks of the 70's)
>after getting close to the hour one time a mate told me to bin the cranks
>as
>they were known to be notorious for coming loose under pressure, although I
>never found this to be the case, however I took his advice and got a set of
>the
>the then new fangled "Record" cranks on credit from JD
>Whiskers........improved my personal best on the next "25" by over two
>minutes, must've been the
>shiny Campag. logo or the new 54t ring on the cranks!!
>regards and Happy New Year
>Griff King-Spooner (London UK)