I think I got my Houdaille Road Machine in '81 or '82.
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
It's different from Bill's later model, having steel tubular legs. I got nervous about flexing an aluminum casting so much. So in '87 I built a recumbent framework and installed the "Road Machine" in such a way that it didn't support the riders weight. It's had zero maintenance in all these years, and Jane still uses it. Much quieter than the Squirrel cage type fans and the flywheel turning 8 times as fast a wheel would gives a very realistic feel.
It sits next to my Kurt Kinetic trainer. It's -8 F outside and dropping, with strong winds. I think we'll be riding in the basement tomorrow.
BTW In about 1979 KOF framebuilder Chris Kvale attempted PBP using a Houdaille Power Cam crank. I believe he was among the leaders when forced to drop out due to reasons unrelated to the cranks. IIRC he said they were a benefit in TT type situations but hopeless for sprinting.
At 2/9/2008 08:21 PM -0500, Bill Talbot wrote:
>CRers,
>
>I was watching the snow falling though the window today, while on my 1975 R
>aysport which was attached to a 25ish year old wind trainer. I found myself
> wondering (what the hell else is there to do when pedaling inside!) what w
>ere the other early trainers? Mine is called "The Road Machine". These came
> out in the mid eighties, at least that's how long I've had mine. I think t
>hey were made in Italy as the "drive belt" is supposedly from a Fiat!. Anyo
>ne else have one of these or remember them?
>Between this and my rollers I can just about survive the long New England w
>inters!
>
>If interested, see pix @
>http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/talbot/album241/?g2_page=2
Mark Stonich;
BikeSmith Design & Fabrication
5349 Elliot Ave S. - Minneapolis. MN 55417
Ph. (612) 824-2372 http://bikesmithdesign.com
http://mnhpva.org