Tim, et al.
The German steel manufacturer Mannesmann had a patent for drawing seamless steel tubing that was granted just about the same time as Reynold's patent in the 1890s.
Prior to the turn of the last century (1900) there was almost no commercially produced "alloy" steel. Various types of plain carbon steels accounted for almost all steel production world wide.
Carbon steel consists of Iron, plus several other elements that can be both alloys or impurities depending of the application. These include Carbon, Silicon, Sulfur and Phosphorus. Manganese (not Magnesium) is added to almost all steel in various amounts for a number of different reasons.
It was discovered that the addition of small amounts of several other elements such as Chrome, Molybdenum and or Nickel could greatly increase the strength and fatigue resistance of Carbon steels.
In the period before WW I the steel producing countries of Europe plus the US steel industry did a lot of research resulting in many new types of Alloy Steels. Most European steel producers plus the US and later Japan settled on steel alloys that contained around 1% Chrome and .25% Molybdenum.
These became known as Chrome Moly Steels or the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) designation of 4130 and similar grades of steel.
The UK developed Alloy Steels using Manganese instead of Chrome plus Molybdenum. This supposedly was because the UK didn't have access to reliable sources for Chrome at the time.
The Manganese Moly Alloy Steel used in Reynolds 531 and the Chrome Moly (4130) Alloy Steel used by many other bicycle tubing manufacturers are so close in mechanical properties that there is very little if any difference in performance between identical dimensioned tubes.
Reynolds claimed to have a slightly higher after brazing strength but that can be difficult to prove for a lot of different reasons.
The amount of alloying elements in these types of steels are around 5% but they can be 2-4 times stronger than plain carbon steels which alloy for much lighter weight thinner wall tubing.
According to the 1981 Tange Tubing Catalog, their proprietary Mangaloy tubing was developed for BMX frames. It was between their Carbon Steel "High Tension" tubing and their 4130 "Chrom-mo" tubes. Metallurgically it appears to be a tricked out Carbon Steel with a slightly higher percentage of Manganese plus some Copper and a very small amount (.15%) of Titanium.
One last thing, I recall reading somewhere that Reynolds' was involved in producing alloy steel tubes for use in military aircraft during WW I as well as bicycle tubing.
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA SME Mfg. Engr.
>The following link will nail down the answer ...
http://reynoldstechnology.biz/
On the site, check out the "about us/did you know?" drop down. In addition to a crisp timeline you will find a facsimile of the original tubing patent (No 24,931) dating to A.D. 1897 and the following:
Reynolds started out as the "The Patent Butted Tube Company Ltd." in 1898, based in Birmingham, England, based on a patent 24931 filed by AM Reynolds and JT Hewitt on 27th October 1897. That butting process, which reduced weight while maintaining strength in key areas, is still used by a number of companies worldwide today.
Tim Parker Vienna, VA Fog/Mist 63F 90% Humidity -----Original Message----- From: Michael Howard [mailto:95rivieramike@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 11:35 PM To: Bob Freitas Cc: CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS Subject: Re: [CR] Reynolds origins
I may be crazy but I believe I remember a story that Reynolds actually started some time around the turn of the century. One of their first products was nails if memory serves me correctly. Does this ring a bell with anyone else?
Mike Howard Santa Fe Springs CA
On Wed, May 27, 2009 at 7:52 PM, Bob Freitas <freitas1@pacbell.net>
wrote:
> Didnt Reynolds originate as an Aircraft Tubing? I think it
> dates to fabric covered Wings etc which has got to be before 1930.
> When we were selling Reynolds in the 70s I remember they said it was
> still being used in the frames of airplane seats
>
> Jeeze, why do I still remember this stuff when I cant
remember
> where I put my car keys 2 hours ago?
> BOB FREITAS
> breezy MILL VALLEY, CA USA