Re: [CR]Questions on 1/8" chain and 4-speed FW's

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 12:45:03 -0500
To: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
From: "Mark Stonich" <mark@bikesmithdesign.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Questions on 1/8" chain and 4-speed FW's
In-Reply-To: <20050522162013.69590.qmail@web81008.mail.yahoo.com>
References: <6667>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

At 5/22/2005 09:20 AM -0700, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
>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.

Jerry My '73 Wheel Goods catalog shows 2. One is an Atom, sold as a 4 or 5 speed. They also sold the same Atom body for 4 or 5 speeds.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears as though the 4 speed Atom is just a 5 speed without the 1st cog. I think this model had the 1st cog screw into internal threads on the 2nd cog. I imagine Maillard had a 4 speed, and when the market demanded 5 they just modified the outer cog to accept an optional 5th cog. Wheel Goods also offered individual cogs to allow you to go to 30t in the last position.

The other is a lousy image but I think I can make out "Regina Extra". This one was also available as a 3/32" 3 speed.
> This bike also is geared too high for much hill climbing with a 14-23 FW
> and 51-49 rings shifted by a Cyclo rod-type FD. Anyone have a 26 or 28T
> 4-speed FW or 42T or smaller chainrings to fit the old three arm cottered
> steel Duprat crank? Looks like the same circle as old Strongliight steel
> cottered cranks.

I think I still have some NOS 36h cheap steel rings to fit.
> Regards,
>Jerry Moos
>Houston, TX

Mark Stonich;
Minneapolis Minnesota
http://mnhpva.org
http://bikesmithdesign.com