On Feb 21, 2007, at 5:33 PM, Harvey Sachs wrote:
> Larry Myers wrote:
>
>
> I went to the Seattle Bike Swap this past weekend; wonderful
> event! Saw some real eye-candy there- an Iver-Johnson track racer
> (fully restored-beautiful!), an early 40's Durkopf ladies touring
> bike (coaster brake w/3-speed derailleur) <snip>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Larry -
> This combination astounded me. To me, "coaster" has always meant
> hub brake actuated by back pressure on the pedals. This doesn't
> seem compatible with the post-war derailleur mechanisms with chain
> slack take-up, the ones that I'm familiar with. But there were
> lots of interesting "experiments" in days of yore, so I'm just
> curious if I read you right, and how the darned thing might have
> worked. Might it have been a hub brake w. 3-speed FW, with a
> cable- or rod-operated drum brake assembly? I think those were
> available from Schwinn, among other sources, but would have to check.
>
> thanks
>
> harvey sachs
> mcLean VA
Coaster brake w/3-speed derailleur setup is shown in the 1938 California Cycle Company catalog out of Long Island, New York. Catalog for sale on my web site...
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, CA USA
http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)