Yes Tom, those cranks were rare curiosities by the time I put them on that bike, in the late 70s. I think the design probably went away mostly because it wasn't very good! Right also about the TA pedals. The front hub is MaxiCar.
If I might brag a little, note also the constructeur-style rear rack made from Cr-Mo steel tubing. I made that at age 19 I think. How many teenagers were into French-style touring bikes (with Art Stump dropouts!) back then?
My mentor/guru was Jerry Collier, who a few people here may know. He supplied the "kinky" (his description) TA cranks.
Here's a link to a close-up photo that shows how they attach to the
axle:
http://bulgier.net/
Mark Bulgier Seattle WA USA
Tom Ward wrote:
> Seldom-seen early production TA crankarms & spindle may be
> seen on the yellow "Ben Dover" bike built by Mark Bulgier
> (at link supplied yesterday by Brandon Ives). Perhaps worth
> pointing to for those who've not seen them, these crankarms
> were no doubt a curiosity even at the date this bike was built.
>
> This is the type of bike I find myself perhaps most drawn
> to--a sophisticated and dignified tourer--which it is, even
> painted "safety" yellow! Here's the link to the drivetrain photo:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/
>
> I believe those are TA pedals as well. Huret Duo-par rear
> derailleur, other top-flight components are in evidence--see
> the hubs--well, anyway, just struck me as neat to see that
> old (even at the time) crankset on the re. It's a sort-of
> cottered cotterless TA model with a proprietary spindle.
> "Jeu de Grain"--do I have the name right? I may have learned
> that fr om Sheldon's site. I believe we previously concluded
> these cranks hit th e market in 1962. I would be curious to
> hear of any dated advertising or catalog listings (having
> put off buying Chuck's and others reprints for far too long,
> and not having as many old mags as I'd like).