Re: [CR]When Were Internally Routed Cables First Used?

In-Reply-To: <031120042211.15004.41a1@comcast.net>
References: <031120042211.15004.41a1@comcast.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2004 21:23:35 -0800
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Jan Heine" <heine93@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]When Were Internally Routed Cables First Used?

There are a bunch of tandems from the 1930s with internally routed brake and derailleur cables in the latest VBQ. I think it may have been a way by the constructeurs to distinguish their bikes from the mass-produced wares, but that is speculation. Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about bikes before 1933, so I can't answer the question. The French usually routed the cable through a brazed tube, so getting the cable in wasn't a problem. -- Jan Heine, Seattle Editor/Publisher Vintage Bicycle Quarterly http://www.mindspring.com/~heine/bikesite/bikesite/

Mike Kone wrote:

Regarding internally routed cables,

I have a French Reyhand touring bike built I guess between 1936 and 1938 that has an internally routed rear deraillieur cable.

Jan Heine should be able to clarify when French tourers started using internal cables, but I suspect the date will go back to the early 30's.