tom sherman drivel continued - was spoke fatigue troll

On Tue, 13 May 2008 01:46:56 +0100, "Clive George"
wrote:

"jim beam" wrote in message
et...

"technically", yes, cast hubs are possible, but you can cast almost
anything [those brake calipers are particularly un-fine]. but that
doesn't mean it ever gets used real world. how many handlebars are cast
for instance? how many frames?

I've ridden a cast framed bike. Very stiff it was too.

clive

Dear Clive,

"Introduced about 1893 by the St. Louis Refigerator and Wooden Gutter
Co., St Louis, MO, the Lu-Mi-Num bicycle frame was cast hollow in one
piece (Fig. 7-43). Containing a small percentage of alloy, this
bicycle evidenced a very early use of aluminum. The front fork was
cast solid and all was polished, but not to a mirror finish."

Figure 7-43:
http://i28.tinypic.com/ouxzzo.jpg

"Rights to the manufacture of the Lu-Mi-Num were purchased by M. M.
Cyc1es, Sans Soudures en Lu-Mi-Num who manufactured it in Paris. It
was sold in England by the Lu-Mi-Num Mfg. Co., Ltd. of London."

"Lu-Mi-Num's 1895 ladies' and gents' models weighed 25 lbs. and sold
for $125. At the 1895 Chicago Bicycle Show, a Lu-Mi-Num exhibit
provided for testing the strength of the aluminum handlebar. Two heavy
men were permitted to suspend their weight from either side to show
that it would not bend or break. Samples of the aluminum used in
making the bicyc1e were twisted and bent into every conceivable shape
without fracturing. A gauge demonstrated the perfect alignment of the
Lu-Mi-Num frame, which was c1aimed to be stronger than any steel
frame."

"A chain case, integrally cast with the frame, gave extra strength to
the 1896 model (Fig. 7-44). Today Lu-Mi-Num bicyc1es must be ridden
with care to guard against fracturing due to the age and embrittlement
of the aluminum."

Figure 7-44:
http://i26.tinypic.com/f2u4n7.jpg

--"Collecting & Restoring Antique Bicycles," G. Donald Adams, p. 222-4

Here's a medal commemorating the Luminum cast bicycle:
http://tinyurl.com/6yglcg

The back of the medal modestly reads:

1894

No more steel to rust
No more tubing to bend
No more heavy machines
No more light ones breaking down
No more brazed joints to give out

No more enamel to scratch
No more nickel to tarnish
Many advantages
No disadvantages

If titanium or carbon fiber frames had been available back in 1894,
their drawbacks would doubtless have fit onto the Lu-Mi-Num medal.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel