Originally Posted by
DiabloScott
Yes, for some reason I'm intrigued by gonfleurs and have participated in other threads about them.
Questions I have about these things:
1. Is it liquid nitrogen, or compressed air?
2. Is it refillable in some way (how?) or is it a one-time use thing?
3. Does it use a cartridge similar to the modern CO2 carts or is the whole thing the cartridge?
4. Why are they bigger and heavier than CO2 inflators?
5. In what period were they popular and why did they disappear? (certainly they disappeared from racing photos at the same time as shoulder sewups because support cars became available).
I'll try and post a photo of mine taken apart. The wall thickness is quite extreme. I would guess at least 4 times the thickness of bicycle frame tubing. It is definitely refillable but I don't know how. The whole thing is a single cartridge from what I can tell. The main period of poularity was in the 50's.