Norris:
> In the recent discussion about the hostory of aluminium parts and their
general availability linked to their relaiblity, Jan Heine posed a question
about when the first aluminium frames were brought into use, and at the same
time suggested that there didn't seem to be many around in the 1920s.
> Although in 1898 the Humber Cycle Company is credited with producing the
first cycle frame with both frame and fork and handlebars in aluminium,
Pechiney suggest that the cycle industry had to wait until 1933 for a
certain Monsieur Py, a Frenchman, to produce the first aluminium frame.
Norris et.al.,
Just for the record. About two years ago (Help me with this one Jan), VBQ had an article entitled the Great Race of 1894, about a local challenge, between Tucson and Phoenix riders, in the wilds of southern Arizona just eight years after Geronimo surrendered. One of the competitors, a Fred Graves "rode a 32-pound Lu-Mi-Num geared to 63 inches." So it appears someone was playing around with aluminum bikes this early, but at 32 pounds it wasn't much competition to steel. Haven't researched this marque so I don't know if there's anything out there.
Craig Montgomery
Tucson