Ray,
They were a bit narrower in those days. But the salient
point is that the spacing between the rear dropouts was
typically 110 millimeters (4 5/16 inches), wereas today we use
120mm for a fixed gear bike.
So... 1.5 inches is about 38mm. On a modern
track/path/fixed-gear/fixed-wheel bike (call it what you like!
:-D ) the chainline is 42 to 43 mm. That's a difference of
5mm. Multiply that by 2, to account for both the drive and
non-drive sides, and you get the difference between 110 and
120mm. So it all makes sense!
Best regards,
Fred Rednor - a chain line and bottom bracket
aficionado, residing in Arlington, Virginia (USA)
> Just read this and in the unlikely event that it is news to
> anyone else I thought I would share it.
> Apparently on a typical early post war English sports bike
> with fixed gear the measurement from the hub and bracket
> centre-line to the chainwheel, and of course the cog, should
> be exactly 1 1/2 inches. That seems remarkably short. Were
> bottom bracket shells narrower in those days?
> Ray Green, Brighton, England
>
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