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The Machines

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Here is a video from 1940- "Torpedo- the queen of the freewheel hubs" showing how these coaster hubs were made from bar stock to finished product in their factory in Schweinfurt. Lots of machinery and also a lot of hand work that is mechanized now. They even made their own bearing cages in house! It's all in German, but has stirring music. 13 minutes of whirring and clicking industry, Some nazis show up in the last minute, and the 50,000,000 Torpedo hub is shown going into a box to be presented to mr. Schickelgruber. I'm sure he cherished it. Not really. And, what the heck are they doing? It's 1940, there's a War on, and they are cranking out bike parts? Dang Illinois nazis... A bunch of dilettantes. No wonder they lost big time.
 
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if you don't mind an off-topic post, my favorite photo from Hardy Brothers, Alnwick, c. 1910, bench-making fly reels.
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These hard-working artisans left their initials for posterity - it was a means to keep up with their workpieces through the many finishing steps
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It's ironic these gentlemen never got to use this stuff - they were making leisure-time wares literally for a different class of people.
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By appointment to HM King George V, and HRH Prince of Wales

ps, I have a 1937 Hardy Hardex spinning reel (terrible design) with a curious mandate crest - by appointment to HRH the Late King George V.
It was politics, no one wanted to be associated with George VI after Edward's abdication. Fact is, if Edward had remained king, he would have sided with the Nazis, which he did in exile.
 
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