Peter Kohler said? "As I've surmised here before I think the hub gear was more a Raleigh "thing" than a British one. Of course Hercules and BSA had their own hub
gears, but I don't think they ever made a range for club or racing use. Sturmey-Archer did of course. But it's always useful to remember SA was part and parcel of Raleigh and I think this impacted on rivals offering their products on their bikes". BSA in 1907 were wanting to make a three-speed hub gear. They had recently merged with Eadie makers of the "Fagan" two-speed and two-speed coaster hub. The same year they got the rights to the Hub Two-speed Gear Company. So they could manufacture three different two-speed gears. This two speed market was in the doldrums whereas the three speed market was growing. So much so demands for this type of gear could not be met. BSA asked the Three-Speed Gear Syndicate for permission to build the Sturmey Archer 3 speed under license. Because Sturmey were unable to keep up with demand in 1907 they granted a licence to BSA. This BSA three-speed was the then current Sturmey X type in modified form. Ball bearing planet pinions were added and it was on sale in 1908. Regarding BSA racing success's . Spring 1922. English gears win abroad in the recent variable gear advent organised by The Touring Club de France, a striking result was scored by the BSA 3-speed hub gear. 1st. 3rd. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th. places were won by this BSA hub gear. The winner was Canteloube who was on an Alleluia bike needless to say the special team prize was awarded to the BSA-Alleluia riders. Don't forget in 1908 you could have your bike equipped with the following makes of three speeds: Sturmey, BSA, Crabbe, Armstrong-Triplex, Seabrook, Humber-Cordner. Sources Cycling May 11th. 1922 and Tony Hadland Book
Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.