The 'N' on the rear, would suggest the British manufacturer Nicklin. Alhough they had their own crank patterns, many appear to be direct copies - i.e. almost identical to those by Edward Williams. I've found quite a few bicycles with a mix of Williams and Nicklin arms - though usually the left-hand being Nicklin, suggesting they were producing service replacements to the Williams patterns.
I've no idea about Nicklin's history but they appear to have lasted as long - if not longer than Williams, and became stock fare on many mass-produced machines well into the late eighties for all breeds of machines ?
Bob Reid Stonehaven Scotland
On 21/06/2004 06:04, "Geoff Duke" <G.Duke@civag.unimelb.edu.au> wrote:
> I am wondering if anyone can help me identify a crank set that came my way
> recently.It is a 1/8th cottered one piece steel crank and chain wheel
> set.165mm long with slender crank arms and no fluting.The chrome is quite
> good and the spider design is similar to a Williams crank that I believe
> was from about 1955.I know this was purchased by the last owner in the mid
> 70's but it is possible that it was secondhand then.The arms are marked
> with a capitol N on the back and so my initial thought was that they were
> Nitto.However the chain wheel crank is also marked "Made In England" in
> small letters.The N is forged into the arm inside a small oval but the
> other letters are stamped very neatly.Did Nitto have some cranks made in
> England or is there an English brand starting with N that I cant
> recall.Anyone have any ideas ?
> Geoff Duke in Melbourne Australia