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TOC Wood Rim Makers Info
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The Boston Wood Rim Co - of Toronto Canada - guessing loosely related to their American counterpart.
The Clarksburg rim was a laminate rim and worked rawhide strips into the rims.
A few more Canadian firms - i'll try and do a little more in depth research on each in the near future.
Southern Canada had great wealth of hardwood forests in the late turn of the century.
Firms like the Cannonball Bicycle Company of Welland Ontario marketed all wood bicycles including the rims. Also the owners of the Comet Cycle co. of Toronto.
The Clarksburg rim was a laminate rim and worked rawhide strips into the rims.
A few more Canadian firms - i'll try and do a little more in depth research on each in the near future.
Southern Canada had great wealth of hardwood forests in the late turn of the century.
Firms like the Cannonball Bicycle Company of Welland Ontario marketed all wood bicycles including the rims. Also the owners of the Comet Cycle co. of Toronto.
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The Spaulding Machine Screw Co., Buffalo NY. Spaulding claimed to make their own rims - they used the Rastetter patent for the Joint. This Ad is from 1895 and you can see the Patent number for the Rastetter patent. The company was owned by brothers Henry F & C. M. Spaulding. They produced many parts, forgings and products for bicycles. Like so many people in the early 1900's bicycle business they ventured into Automobile production and produced the short lived 1902 Spaulding automobile. ( try not to confuse them with A.G. Spalding )
1895 ad from Bearings - note Pat no on rim joint.
1894 Rastetter Pat.
Bicycle fittings ad
1895 ad from Bearings - note Pat no on rim joint.
1894 Rastetter Pat.
Bicycle fittings ad
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Wood bending Machine 1898 - R A Gibson Patent.
R. A. GIBSON. MACHINE FOR BENDING HOOPS FOR RIMS, m.
Patented Jan. 18, 1898.
lnventor.
UNrrEn Sra'rns arnnr rricn...
ROBERT A. GIBSOJ, OF BUFFALO, NEXV YORK.
MACHINE FOR SENDING HOOPS FOR RiiViS, 30G.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,463, dated January 18, 1898.
Application filed November 29, 1895. Renewed June 14, 1897. Serial No. 640,759. (No model.)
To all whom it 71mg; concern..-
Be it known that I, ROBERTA. GIBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Bending Hoops for Rims or other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.
My invention relates to an improved means for bending hoops for bicycle-rims, mudguards, or other purposes, and it will be fully an d clear] y hereinafter described an d claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the machine complete. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine, showing a hoop or rim in position thereon partly bent. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on or about line a ct, Fig. 2. Fig. at is a plan view showing a portion of the rim of the machine and the means for securin the end of the hoop preparatory to bending it. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detached perspective View of the clamping-claw for holding the hoop or rim when bent or formed.
Referring to the details of the machine, 1 represents a pedestal or support upon which the machine rests. The base of this support is rigidly secured to the floor. The object in thus securing it is to hold the machine in a rigid position while using it, as will more clearly appear when describing its operation. On the top of the support are secured in the ordinary way by screws four arms 3, radiating from the center outward, and on the end of each one of said arms is secured by a bolt t a bracket 5, having its nearly-vertical face 6 inclined slightly-inward toward the center from the bottom upward, so as to receive and hold in a horizontal position an iron ring 7, also made correspondingly tapering on the inside, adapting it to fit closely thereon and still be easily removable therefrom. By this construction the ring '7 may be easily and quickly put in its position on the machine, so that it will remain rigidly secure while in operation, and from which position it can be instantly loosened and removed by means of a light tap of a hammer at its under side. This iron ring '7 is provided on its periphery with a hookshaped portion 8, preferably made integral with it 5 but it may be made separate and put on, if required. The object of the hook portion 8 is to provide a convenient means to receive and hold the end of the hoop or mudguard while being.bcnt,substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.
A removable bending-arm 9, made, preferably, of hard wood, is provided with a handle 10 and at its opposite end with a round iron pivotal pin 11, secured at right angles thereto bya nut 12. On the top of the radiating arm 3 is rigidly secured by screws 13 (see Fig. 3) a socketed plate 1%, the socket being exactly central and adapted to receive the pin 11 of the arm 9, whereby said arm 9 may instantly and easily be removed by lifting it up and thereby withdrawing its pivotal pin 11 from its socket in the central plate 14. (See Fig. 3.) A friction-roller 15 is also secured to the arm 9 by means of thebracket 16, rigidly fastened to the under side of the arm by bolts 17 and a pivotal pin 18.
The object of the arm 9 and its several parts will appear farther on.
A clamping-claw, consisting of the two wedge-claws 19 19 and a holding-claw 20, constructed of cast metal in one integral piece, is used for securing the free end of the bar or hoop 21 when the bend is complete. The
clamping-claws 19 and 19 are suflicientlyfar I apart to allow the device to be put on over the iron f0rming-ring 7 by moving the said claws inward, each passing over said ring, substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and when securing the end of a bent hoop or half-hoop a wedge 22 is put in between the claws l9 and 19 and the inner side of the forming-ring 7. It will be noticed that this removable clamping-claw is not limited to any particular position on the ring 7, but is designed to be put at the end of a strip or hoop 21 of any length adapted to be bent on said ring. The ethos of its wedge-shaped portion 20 is not only to hold the end of the hoop, but to provide the means whereby the roller 15 on the arm 9 can force the extreme end of the hoop closely to the ring 7 and at the same time force the claws 19 and 19 away from the inner side of the ring '7, and thereby leave room for the wedge 22 to be driven in place, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. 4
The operation of the device is as follows:
The strip or bar of wood to be bent is steamed in the usual way and the end slipped in under the hook 8. (See Fig. 2.) The arm 9 is then put in place by inserting its pivotal pin 11 in the central socket, so that the roller 15 comes on the outside of the strip to be bent, the strip 21 having been bent slightly around the ring '7 to allow said roller to pass over said strip. By now taking hold of the handle 10 the arm is easily drawn around the ring 7, its pin 11 turning in its pivotal center or socket and thereby bending strip 21, substantially as shown by the dotted lines 23 in Fig. 2. Vhen the roller 15 reaches nearly to the end of the strip 21, the clamping-claws are moved forward until the holding-claw 20 (which is made in the form of a wedge) passes over the end of said strip. pulled still farther around until the roller passes on to the claw 20, and thereby forces the claws 19 and 19 inward as far as possible. The wedge 22 is then forced in between said claws 19 and 19 and the ring 7, thereby holding the hoop or mud-guard rigidly in position against the ring 7. The arm 9 is now taken off and the ring 7 removed from the machine with the hoop on it, as shown in Fig. 2, and put away to dry. Another strip is then put on to be bent and the operation repeated.
In the drawings I have shown four of the arms 3; but the number may be more or less, if required, and in place of the brackets 5 a continuous ring may be used to hold the ring '7, substantially as shown by the dotted lines 24 in Fig. 2. p
I claim as my invention- The arm 9 is then' -ing-roller and a removable clam ping-claw and wedge, for the purposes described.
2. In a machine for bending wooden strips. the combination with a bending-ring mounted removably, on the supporting-frame, of a removable clamping device consisting of the j clamping-claws 19 19 and Wedge-shaped piece 20, all formed in one integral piece for the purposes described.
3. In a machine for bending woodenstrips. the combination with a. bending-ring mounted removably, on the supporting-frame, of a removable clamping. device consisting of the clamping-claws 19 19 and wed ge-shaped piece 20, all formed in one integral piece, and a removable wedge 22, for receiving and holding the end of the bent hoop or mud-guard, substantially as described.
ROBERT A. GIBSON.
WVitnesses:
JAMES SANGSTER, L. M. SPONG.
R. A. GIBSON. MACHINE FOR BENDING HOOPS FOR RIMS, m.
Patented Jan. 18, 1898.
lnventor.
UNrrEn Sra'rns arnnr rricn...
ROBERT A. GIBSOJ, OF BUFFALO, NEXV YORK.
MACHINE FOR SENDING HOOPS FOR RiiViS, 30G.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,463, dated January 18, 1898.
Application filed November 29, 1895. Renewed June 14, 1897. Serial No. 640,759. (No model.)
To all whom it 71mg; concern..-
Be it known that I, ROBERTA. GIBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Bending Hoops for Rims or other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.
My invention relates to an improved means for bending hoops for bicycle-rims, mudguards, or other purposes, and it will be fully an d clear] y hereinafter described an d claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the machine complete. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine, showing a hoop or rim in position thereon partly bent. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on or about line a ct, Fig. 2. Fig. at is a plan view showing a portion of the rim of the machine and the means for securin the end of the hoop preparatory to bending it. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detached perspective View of the clamping-claw for holding the hoop or rim when bent or formed.
Referring to the details of the machine, 1 represents a pedestal or support upon which the machine rests. The base of this support is rigidly secured to the floor. The object in thus securing it is to hold the machine in a rigid position while using it, as will more clearly appear when describing its operation. On the top of the support are secured in the ordinary way by screws four arms 3, radiating from the center outward, and on the end of each one of said arms is secured by a bolt t a bracket 5, having its nearly-vertical face 6 inclined slightly-inward toward the center from the bottom upward, so as to receive and hold in a horizontal position an iron ring 7, also made correspondingly tapering on the inside, adapting it to fit closely thereon and still be easily removable therefrom. By this construction the ring '7 may be easily and quickly put in its position on the machine, so that it will remain rigidly secure while in operation, and from which position it can be instantly loosened and removed by means of a light tap of a hammer at its under side. This iron ring '7 is provided on its periphery with a hookshaped portion 8, preferably made integral with it 5 but it may be made separate and put on, if required. The object of the hook portion 8 is to provide a convenient means to receive and hold the end of the hoop or mudguard while being.bcnt,substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.
A removable bending-arm 9, made, preferably, of hard wood, is provided with a handle 10 and at its opposite end with a round iron pivotal pin 11, secured at right angles thereto bya nut 12. On the top of the radiating arm 3 is rigidly secured by screws 13 (see Fig. 3) a socketed plate 1%, the socket being exactly central and adapted to receive the pin 11 of the arm 9, whereby said arm 9 may instantly and easily be removed by lifting it up and thereby withdrawing its pivotal pin 11 from its socket in the central plate 14. (See Fig. 3.) A friction-roller 15 is also secured to the arm 9 by means of thebracket 16, rigidly fastened to the under side of the arm by bolts 17 and a pivotal pin 18.
The object of the arm 9 and its several parts will appear farther on.
A clamping-claw, consisting of the two wedge-claws 19 19 and a holding-claw 20, constructed of cast metal in one integral piece, is used for securing the free end of the bar or hoop 21 when the bend is complete. The
clamping-claws 19 and 19 are suflicientlyfar I apart to allow the device to be put on over the iron f0rming-ring 7 by moving the said claws inward, each passing over said ring, substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and when securing the end of a bent hoop or half-hoop a wedge 22 is put in between the claws l9 and 19 and the inner side of the forming-ring 7. It will be noticed that this removable clamping-claw is not limited to any particular position on the ring 7, but is designed to be put at the end of a strip or hoop 21 of any length adapted to be bent on said ring. The ethos of its wedge-shaped portion 20 is not only to hold the end of the hoop, but to provide the means whereby the roller 15 on the arm 9 can force the extreme end of the hoop closely to the ring 7 and at the same time force the claws 19 and 19 away from the inner side of the ring '7, and thereby leave room for the wedge 22 to be driven in place, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. 4
The operation of the device is as follows:
The strip or bar of wood to be bent is steamed in the usual way and the end slipped in under the hook 8. (See Fig. 2.) The arm 9 is then put in place by inserting its pivotal pin 11 in the central socket, so that the roller 15 comes on the outside of the strip to be bent, the strip 21 having been bent slightly around the ring '7 to allow said roller to pass over said strip. By now taking hold of the handle 10 the arm is easily drawn around the ring 7, its pin 11 turning in its pivotal center or socket and thereby bending strip 21, substantially as shown by the dotted lines 23 in Fig. 2. Vhen the roller 15 reaches nearly to the end of the strip 21, the clamping-claws are moved forward until the holding-claw 20 (which is made in the form of a wedge) passes over the end of said strip. pulled still farther around until the roller passes on to the claw 20, and thereby forces the claws 19 and 19 inward as far as possible. The wedge 22 is then forced in between said claws 19 and 19 and the ring 7, thereby holding the hoop or mud-guard rigidly in position against the ring 7. The arm 9 is now taken off and the ring 7 removed from the machine with the hoop on it, as shown in Fig. 2, and put away to dry. Another strip is then put on to be bent and the operation repeated.
In the drawings I have shown four of the arms 3; but the number may be more or less, if required, and in place of the brackets 5 a continuous ring may be used to hold the ring '7, substantially as shown by the dotted lines 24 in Fig. 2. p
I claim as my invention- The arm 9 is then' -ing-roller and a removable clam ping-claw and wedge, for the purposes described.
2. In a machine for bending wooden strips. the combination with a bending-ring mounted removably, on the supporting-frame, of a removable clamping device consisting of the j clamping-claws 19 19 and Wedge-shaped piece 20, all formed in one integral piece for the purposes described.
3. In a machine for bending woodenstrips. the combination with a. bending-ring mounted removably, on the supporting-frame, of a removable clamping. device consisting of the clamping-claws 19 19 and wed ge-shaped piece 20, all formed in one integral piece, and a removable wedge 22, for receiving and holding the end of the bent hoop or mud-guard, substantially as described.
ROBERT A. GIBSON.
WVitnesses:
JAMES SANGSTER, L. M. SPONG.
Here are some examples of French wood rims and the American connection ( Franco-Americaine ). Being American businessmen, many of the wood rim manufaturers saw Europe was very important export market. Many companies exported rims, some set up factories in Europe and others partnered with local companies in order to meet the demand for rims. Some counties such as the UK were very biased against the use of wood - though, there still was a demand and they later saw the the advantages on the race track. I will try and explore this in further detail - for now..... here are a few examples.
This was part of campaign to show the strength of the wood rim and promote the American cause for the use of wood and the adavantage of the wooden bicycle rim.
French options....
A few examples of the Franco - American rims.....
This was part of campaign to show the strength of the wood rim and promote the American cause for the use of wood and the adavantage of the wooden bicycle rim.
French options....
A few examples of the Franco - American rims.....
Fairbanks wood rim co - factory in England. After Importing rims to the UK in 1894 demand was such that In 1895 Fairbanks rented a facility in an old lace factory located in Draycott, Derbyshire called Draycott Mills that still stands today. Also located in this old lace mill was the manufacturing of the Simson lever Chain at the same time ( Lever Chain and Cycle Co. ). The facility was huge and host to many industries in the day. In fact, it is said that the building was based on the dimensions of Noha's Ark.
Simpson "Lever" Chain, a much-boomed novelty which enjoyed a brief but hectic career, 1895 - 1897. The first patent W.S.Simpson took 27th December 1894. Simpson Lever Chain and Cycle Co., Ltd. was a maker of the Simpson lever chain, this company premises at 110 Regent Street, London and works at Draycott, Derbyshire. This maker offered his own bicycles under name "Simpson" lever chains have been used by many riders on other bicycles. „The great Humber Company took up the idea and the famous Gladiator firm of Paris adopted it. The result was that riders using the chain began to sweep the board, and by January Simpson lever chain riders had made all the existing word's records from a quarter of a mile to forty-four miles, and since then the successes have been constant!!!!“. Wrote The Illustrated London News 20th June 1896
Simpson "Lever" Chain, a much-boomed novelty which enjoyed a brief but hectic career, 1895 - 1897. The first patent W.S.Simpson took 27th December 1894. Simpson Lever Chain and Cycle Co., Ltd. was a maker of the Simpson lever chain, this company premises at 110 Regent Street, London and works at Draycott, Derbyshire. This maker offered his own bicycles under name "Simpson" lever chains have been used by many riders on other bicycles. „The great Humber Company took up the idea and the famous Gladiator firm of Paris adopted it. The result was that riders using the chain began to sweep the board, and by January Simpson lever chain riders had made all the existing word's records from a quarter of a mile to forty-four miles, and since then the successes have been constant!!!!“. Wrote The Illustrated London News 20th June 1896