Re: [CR] GB strm extensions

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:48:07 +0100
Subject: Re: [CR] GB strm extensions
From: "Hilary Stone" <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk>
To: Bob Hanson <theonetrueBob@webtv.net>, <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <18042-4499711C-415@storefull-3271.bay.webtv.net>


I think you will find that these are all very close to metric lengths in units of one or 0.5. 1 3/4in = 4cm, 2in = 5cm, 2 3/4in = 7cm, 3 1/2in = 9cm , 4in = 10cm. GB were an early pioneer in using metric dimensions - but the English market was not ready for cm or mm so the sizes were presented in inches.

Hilary Stone, Bristol, England
> From: theonetrueBob@webtv.net (Bob Hanson)
> Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:17:32 -0600
> To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR] GB strm extensions
>
> Just looking through one of Chuck Schmidt's copies of a Ron Kitching
> Catalogue from 1963... Listed under GB alloy stems (all in inches) is:
> 1•3/4, 2, 2•3/4, 3•1/2, 4
>
> My original 1960 Holdsworthy "Cyclists' Aids" booklet shows the
> Hiduminiun (alloy) stems in 1•3/4, 2•3/4, 3•1/2. This catalogue
> does, however, also list several GB models in steel, with many more
> variations in length, and these have even more peculiar measurements
> listed - such as 2•3/8, 3•5/8, and these also ranged to even longer
> extensions than were ever available from them (5•3/8, 5•3/4) in
> alloy variations.
>
> With the less than standard lengths offered, in either material, perhaps
> GB was really not very concerned with presenting precise incremental
> increases which would fit neatly into a standardized chart of either
> metric or British sizing... to assist our comparisons across differing
> marques.
>
> If Hilary Stone should happen to peruse this thread, I suspect he would
> have a great deal more info to offer on the subject.
>
> Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA