When I was little (long time ago) I always thought that 4-speed freewheels were made for 1/8" chain and that 3/32" chain came in so that 5-speeds could be handled without going to an excessively wide freewheel. This is actually wrong, though I think it might be what was predominant in the British marketplace. I have 2 Italian bikes, one late forties, the other 1950/51, both with 4-speed 3/32" freewheels. The Simplex derailleur on the latter is marked as being for such.
I have yet to see a 3-speed freewheel for 3/32" chain. Do they exist?
Hugh Thornton Cheshire, England
In a message dated 22/05/05 17:20:36 GMT Daylight Time, jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net writes:
> I've been sorting out the 1950 Claud Butler I picked up from Peter Naiman
> at Larz last year. I note that it uses 1/8" chain. The Cyclo plunger-type RD
> and evn the steel rings on the Duprat cranks look like they would handle
> 3/32" chain, but the 4-speed FW cogs are definitely too thick. When did 3/32"
> chain come into general use? Were there any 4-speed FW's made to handle 3/32"
> chain.