[CR]Re: Sturmey-Archer history and prospects

(Example: Books:Ron Kitching)

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Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 23:26:35 -0500
To: englishbike@sheldonbrown.org, Classicrendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Sheldon Brown" <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>
Subject: [CR]Re: Sturmey-Archer history and prospects

When I went out to the Interbike show in Las Vegas I had an opportunity to chat with a former Sturmey-Archer executive, now employed by SunRace Sturmey-Archer. I've already reported on this at http://sheldonbrown.org/englishbike/sturmey-archer-history.html

Tonight a posting on the Menotomy list reminded me of something else he mentioned: I had commented on the decline of Sturmey-Archer quality over the years. As an example, I mentioned the fact that the newer hubs no longer come with a lubrication port.

He agreed that this was unfortunate, then mentioned a problem that occurred in the late '50s, when they switched from the old metal lubricator cap with the spring-loaded hinge to the newer, plastic type.

As it happened, the old metal caps were never actually oil-tight, and would always leak, and the oil would gradually cover the hub shell. Once they switched to the plastic caps, they didn't leak any more. As a result, there was no longer a film of oil on the hub shell, and they started having problems with shells rusting!

In the end, the switch to the plastic lubricator required them to start using a higher-quality chrome plating procedure than they had previously used!

Sheldon "Oops!" Brown Newtonville, Massachusetts +--------------------------------------------+ | Never worry about theory as long as the | | machinery does what it's supposed to do. | | --Robert A. Heinlein | +--------------------------------------------+
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