[CR] GB strm extensions

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Avocet)

From: "NIGEL LAND" <ndland@btinternet.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <MONKEYFOOD3aZuGVun000002948@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org>
Subject: [CR] GB strm extensions
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 08:14:20 +0100


Hilary, I don't mean to nit-pick but I am interested in your statement that GB stem lenngths were simply metric equivalents. It is possible to find a close match to almost any imperial length given that an inch is just longer than 2.5 inches, but you are implying that GB stems were made in metric lengths and just rounded up or down for the English buyer. Did they also, then, market these components in Europe in metric lengths? Being a large supplier to the UK market and hence the Commonwealth what advantage would GB have gained in being 'an early pioneer in metrication' There is nothing difficult in making stuff to metric lengths - the UK has been doing it ever since the French invented the system. The problems I seem to remember were fasteners and stuff like pipe and tube sizing. Interestingly, in 1939, Rosa stems were available through Brown Bros in 1 1/2, 2 1/2 3 and 4 inch stems and I am sure they were actual lengths - as English cyclists may not all be good at maths but we can all use tape measures!

Nigel Land being pedantic in North Lincs UK

Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:48:07 +0100 From: Hilary Stone <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk> To: Bob Hanson <theonetrueBob@webtv.net>, <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: Re: [CR] GB strm extensions Message-ID: <C0BF36D7.5BC7C%hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <18042-4499711C-415@storefull-3271.bay.webtv.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 6

I think you will find that these are all very close to metric lengths in units of one or 0.5. 1 3/4in = 4cm, 2in = 5cm, 2 3/4in = 7cm, 3 1/2in = 9cm , 4in = 10cm. GB were an early pioneer in using metric dimensions - but the English market was not ready for cm or mm so the sizes were presented in inches.

Hilary Stone, Bristol, England
> From: theonetrueBob@webtv.net (Bob Hanson)
> Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:17:32 -0600
> To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR] GB strm extensions
>
> Just looking through one of Chuck Schmidt's copies of a Ron Kitching
> Catalogue from 1963... Listed under GB alloy stems (all in inches) is:
> 1.3/4, 2, 2.3/4, 3.1/2, 4
>
> My original 1960 Holdsworthy "Cyclists' Aids" booklet shows the
> Hiduminiun (alloy) stems in 1.3/4, 2.3/4, 3.1/2. This catalogue
> does, however, also list several GB models in steel, with many more
> variations in length, and these have even more peculiar measurements
> listed - such as 2.3/8, 3.5/8, and these also ranged to even longer
> extensions than were ever available from them (5.3/8, 5.3/4) in
> alloy variations.
>
> With the less than standard lengths offered, in either material, perhaps
> GB was really not very concerned with presenting precise incremental
> increases which would fit neatly into a standardized chart of either
> metric or British sizing... to assist our comparisons across differing
> marques.
>
> If Hilary Stone should happen to peruse this thread, I suspect he would
> have a great deal more info to offer on the subject.
>
> Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA