[CR]Early Alloy Parts----1902 Romanium rims

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:25:57 -0800 (PST)
From: "Peter Jourdain" <pjourdain@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Early Alloy Parts----1902 Romanium rims

Hi, CR Mates---

Here's an addition to the discussion on early alloy parts.

This comes via a fellow many of us know and respect, Mark Stonich, who just posted a message to the Gentleman Cyclist list (gentlemancyclist@googlegroups.com), which focuses on English 3-speed bikes and British cycling culture. (A very fun group, by the way.)

Mark pointed out a Wolverhampton local history site which has several pages on cycles. A relevant part of the Sunbeam history page ...

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/bicycles/Sunbeam.htm

....reads:

"In 1902 the “Featherwieght, Ladies Sunbeam” (design H.R.H.) was the first Sunbeam machine fitted with Roman rims as standard.

They were invented by Dr. R.I. Roman of the Roman Cycle Co., Lombard Street, London in 1897, and were joint-less alloy rims made from an aluminium alloy he called romanium."

Just passing the word along on this coincidental, parallel discussion. Thanks, Mark!

Peter Jourdain Whitewater, Wisconsin US of A

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