Originally Posted by
FBinNY
Actually the alternative predated the problem. Bob Lickton invented the Lickton Link some time before that but never succeeded in getting any OEM to adopt it. So it remained a niche aftermarket item used by a relatively small number of cyclists. It wasn't until Sram licensed the patent, (or designed around it) and made the Powerlink standard on their chains that it became common.
Yeah, I know about the Lickton Link and the Superlink. However, I was talking about a entire alternative chain, not just the link. I don't remember a non-Shimano Hyperglide-compatible chain becoming available until the late '90's.