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12-04-25 | 07:13 AM

#126

Trakhak

Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 8,975

Likes: 5,893

From: Baltimore, MD

Quote:

Originally Posted by noglider

It's OK, tolks, no offense taken.

I should hope not.

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12-05-25 | 01:01 AM

#127

Andy_K

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Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 15,095

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From: Beaverton, OR

Bikes: Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trakhak

Issac Newton?

Precisely

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12-06-25 | 01:46 PM

#128

brewerkz

Senior Member

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 539

Likes: 751

From: Boise, Idaho

Bikes: '46 Higgins Ultralite, 50s Wally Green, ‘69 Raleigh Professional,'78 Dawes, '82 3Rensho Standard Road,‘84 Trek 170, '90 Trek 970,'97 Waterford 1200

Simplex chain bike auction

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/...united-kingdom

12-07-25 | 04:24 AM

#129

Duragrouch

Highly Enriched Driftium

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 6,661

Likes: 2,154

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewerkz

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/...united-kingdom

Never seen that chain style. Cannot find any info online about it, not even info for Simplex chain, though that is the generic name for typical roller chains like on bikes. I cannot see the purpose of that style chain on a bike, the inner segments that run along the sprockets are what transmit power. I'm thinking that style chain must have been invented for some other application where the outer peaks drive something, and was simply used on that bike.

12-07-25 | 06:16 AM

#130

bulgie

Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 3,702

Likes: 5,481

From: Seattle

Any chance that's actually a Simpson chain?

1896 ad is by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec.

The "outer peaks" drive the rear sprocket.

12-07-25 | 10:33 AM

#131

brewerkz

Senior Member

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 539

Likes: 751

From: Boise, Idaho

Bikes: '46 Higgins Ultralite, 50s Wally Green, ‘69 Raleigh Professional,'78 Dawes, '82 3Rensho Standard Road,‘84 Trek 170, '90 Trek 970,'97 Waterford 1200

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulgie

Any chance that's actually a Simpson chain?

1896 ad is by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec.

The "outer peaks" drive the rear sprocket.

I think your right, I think the auction house has it wrong.

12-07-25 | 10:46 PM

#132

Duragrouch

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Joined: Apr 2017

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bulgie

Any chance that's actually a Simpson chain?

1896 ad is by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec.

The "outer peaks" drive the rear sprocket.

THANK YOU!!

Why in the HECK would they drive the rear sprocket like that, instead of the inner ladder chain driving it at the same diameter? There's gotta be a reason. Gonna search online. EDIT: Well that was easy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simpson_chain

12-08-25 | 12:54 AM

#133

Aubergine

Francophile

Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 4,783

Likes: 2,089

From: Seattle

Bikes: Lots

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duragrouch

Ha! That link was worth reading.

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12-08-25 | 01:06 AM

#134

ShannonM

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2020

Posts: 1,813

Likes: 1,478

From: Oakland, CA

Lotta weirdo bike things in the 1880s-90s.

1980s, too.*

--Shannon

* There was a pair of the PMP "L" cranks at the SF bike swap today... pretty cool, actually. (Not $665.73 + shipping for NOS cool, or even maybe 250 bucks on a blanket at the swap meet cool... but cool.)

12-08-25 | 01:18 AM

#135

bulgie

Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 3,702

Likes: 5,481

From: Seattle

Yeah the Simpson chain was much like the PMP crank, promising something for nothing, either ignoring or ignorant of the laws of physics.
Simpsons had an all-comers race and gave 10 to 1 odds that his man on a Simpson chain would win. He did, but it had nothing to do with the chain. It was a paced race, and the Simpson rider just had faster pacers. Pure snake oil.