Russ Fitzgerald wrote:
> Oh yeah - I forgot to mention that those folks who believe they
> need an axle retainer (what's the term these days, chain tug?)
> probably believe they only work with rear-loading track ends. My
> primary fixed-gear riding partner uses one of the BMX variety on
> the stamped horizontal dropouts on the in-period, but not
> particularly lightweight Schwinn he uses for rough stuff. Those
> dropouts, btw, aren't too far away from the older stamped British
> units on my '62 Dawes.
>
> Now, if someone would just bring back the old Cyclo units pictured
> in R. John Way's book from about 1952 or so - designed for long
> horizontal dropouts. I think someone actually posted a pic of such
> a unit to this list, but that was years ago.
Today, I think chain tensioner, or chain tug, but back in the day more accurately called a chain adjuster.
Here's some different styles:
Schwinn 1939 catalog "Schwinn Chain Adjuster -- latest approved Continental type": <http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Schwinn39-Paramount-Superior/ 39ps18b.jpg>
Cyclo-pedia 1974 catalog "Chain Adjuster (Italy): <http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/cyclo-pedia-74/p53% 20accessories%202.jpg>
Cyclo chain adjuster for horizontal dropout:
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/
I use the one shown in the '39 Schwinn catalog on the drive side of my '60 Mercian Vigorelli Superlight road/track with GB aluminum alloy wingnuts. The real value of these chain adjustors, other than very accurate and repeatable chain tension adjustment, is that it will keep the wheel from being pulled forward when using wingnuts (hard to get real torque on those with your hand). I've found in practice that you only really need the one on the drive side when using wingnuts.
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California
United States of America
http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)