Re: [CR]Block Chain , When ? was Block chain still available?

<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>; "Bruce C." <BruceCumberland@comcast.net> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 11:13 AM Subject: Re: [CR]Block Chain , When ? was Block chain still available?

> Raoul asked about block chain being made and used up until the 1960s. The
> context is real block chain with a solid inner linking piece, two side
> plates etc. and not a roller in sight.
>
> From my own experience I think block chain was even sold new in the 1960s.
> Keep in mind this would be used by tradition minded sprinters only. My 1959
> Frejus track bike had a Regina block chain, and Campagnolo 1" pitch cogs.
> The Frejus catalog skips the chain in the equipment listings, although I
> gather Frejus favored Everest cogs and chains. I tend to think the chain was
> original on the Frejus because it is darn hard to wear them out.
>
> I suspect Regina was the last block chain made new.
>
> Per the 1939 Oglaend's catalog available from Velo-Retro a Diamond Block
> Racing chain was $ 4.80 wholesale and a Diamond No. 61 Roller chain was
> $2.50.
>
> Anyone have later catalog entries for block chains?
>
> Joe Bender-Zanoni
> Great Notch, NJ
>
> > But , about block chain being used by sprinters up into the 1960's , and
> > big name chain manufacturers actually making block chain in "fairly
> modern"
> > times . . .
> >
> > Are we talking about the same thing ?
> >
> > Solid steel blocks of metal , connected by side-plates , and held
> together
> > with steel pins ? Solid steel blocks ?
> >
> > Normally , almost always , almost every time , when someone is talking
> > about "skip-tooth" chain , they are talking about
> > one-inch-pitch-roller-chain . And just to be clear , although you can
> > use a normal "half-inch" chain on "skip-tooth" cogs and
> ainwheels -
> > you can NOT use a one-inch-pitch-roller-chain on "half-inch" cogs
> and
> > chainwheels .
> >
> > Block chain and one-inch-pitch-roller-chain can be used interchangeably
> > ( assuming that they are roughly the same width ) . But block chain is
> > made up of solid steel blocks , connected by steel side-plates .
> >
> > And major manufacturers were making actual block chain , not only well
> into
> > the 20th Century , but even after World War II ?? ??
> >
> > I'm very interested . Thanks !