What bike used a HUGE inch pitch chainring?
 

I was working out in the woods today, and I found this in a metal pile. No bike unfortunately :(

The crank arm is 7" long, and the pedal spindle is still attached/fused to it. The bottom bracket is still attached as well, and it looks like an appropriate width for a bicycle. It has 30 teeth (including the rusted off one). The ring is 9.5" in diameter from tooth to tooth, compared with a 48 tooth Rudge which is 7.75" in diameter measured the same way.

Anyhow, enjoy the pictures :)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...s/IMG_7048.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...s/IMG_7050.jpg

That chain ring type looks familiar...

In the shop we have a large selection of vintage rings hanging on the walls, but I can't seem too figure out what type it is. Hit that thing with some acid though... dang.

I am pretty sure that what you have is a skip link sprocket. Time period - perhaps late 40's to 50's. The chains consisted of a short link/long link combination, alternating. Tell you the truth, I really do not know why this combination was made or used for, but hopefully someone wiser can answer this .

Skiptooth chains were very common on middle and heavyweight pre war bikes. Typically American ballooners. I can't say I've ever seen one with a "three piece" crank though...typically they were ashtaluba type cranks. Check out www.ratrodbikes.com to check out more about them.

That's a huge ring
30 teeth on an inch pitch is 60 teeth on a modern 1/2in pitch ring
Might have been from an old American track bike at that size.
-Gene-

Nice selection of chainring pictures

http://www.bikecult.com/works/chainwheel.html

That type of crank is pre-war and number of teeth is huge for a skip tooth... I would agree that it would have been used on a performance bike of some kind.

Might have been used on a track bike(Stayer) made for pacing behind a motorbike.

Cool pictures! That page has pictures of even bigger rings:eek:

It certainly is neat! I'm glad I rescued it :)

There is a truly ancient Schwinn hanging from the ceiling of a junk shop around here that has a similar crank and chainwheel.

Maybe I'll stop by tomorrow and see if they still have it, might be a match.

They were relatively common on track bikes, even into the sixties. Well, in the UK you could still find ads and references to them. I never knew anyone who rode with an inch pitch chain but I remember being impressed with the thought of fitting one to my Carlton Flyer track bike. Sadly at that time the cost was out of the question. Who said money is wasted on the old?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=546776&page=3
post 59. : ]

That is a chain ring from a bike called a Racycle (Racecyle?) from about 1915ish. Roger

Yep, Racycle. This picture represents a 1908 model. Too bad the bike wasn't attached to it!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9tq2Rh0MMc8/Sa...ycle_135_D.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9tq2Rh0MMc8/Sa...ycle_135_D.JPG

So, Kevin... did you tell your wife you want a metal detector for Christmas?