Who made them? (Re: [CR]BSA Question)

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

Subject: Who made them? (Re: [CR]BSA Question)
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
To: chuckschmidt@earthlink.net
From: "Brandon Ives" <monkeylad@mac.com>
In-Reply-To: <3DD1A3A3.CE8D5738@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 18:29:50 -0800

On Tuesday, November 12, 2002, at 04:59 PM, Chuck Schmidt wrote:
> BSA Cycle Fittings Catalog, 1927 -- 6 pages, shows the distinctive
> chain
> wheel incorporating the Trade Mark letters "BSA", lugs, cranks, pedals,
> headsets, hubs, handlebars and the B.S.A. American Racing Frame. B&W
> cover. $ 4

I've always liked the BSA stuff and they seem to have made just about every metal part for a bicycle at one time or another. I've always wondered if they made all the parts themselves or contracted them from other folks other than Sturmey-Archer for the hubs. Though the BSA Sturmey hubs were just more than re-labeled SA 3-speeds. They were a major armaments manufacturer, thus the "A" in their name, so I'm sure they had the tooling and know-how to do it. On the flip-side it seems like a major investment and change of direction, particularly with the need for British Small Arms by the British for warfare from 1910 to
1945.
thanks folks,
Brandon"monkeyman"Ives
SB, CA