Martin wrote:
> German Cycling magazine current issue has a feature about one of their
> writers trying to climb the "ballon d'alsace" on a bicycle from 1898.
> the bicycle is a "Permanenz" built in Germany, Dresden until 1905.
> it has one "block" brake where a ruber block ets pressed onto
> the front tire. Pictures from 1910 already show bikes equipped with
> rim brakes. Does anybody know when these got invented/first used on
> bicacles? who made them?
The block brakes were still common on racing bikes well into the teens. After the teens they seem to disappear from all but upright city bikes. I believe Jan is correct in pointing out that the French had already experimented with them around the turn of the century. The oldest photo that I have found, dated 1899, appears to show their use on a French bike. The photo is however so poor that I cannot be sure. I have been told that the first bikes to have industrially made brakes mounted through the fork crown and brake bridge were from the 30's. Prior to that they were apparently all mounted with bands on the stays or fork blades or were brazed on. It is much more likely that caliper brakes were first used on tourist bikes than on racing bikes as few race promoters were inclined to permit their use, in much the same way that gearing was not permitted. In the June issue of Bicisport, they state that Goddet saw the use of such aids unworthy of a true contest of riders. It is also interesting that special primes were given in all of the early Tours de France for the riders able to get up the steepest hills without dismounting.
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ