The meaning of "quill" stems and pedals

I have always wondered why traditional stems and pedals were called
"quill" stems and pedals. Then, I found out in the yahoo dictionary
that the definitions are :

1. The hollow stemlike main shaft of a feather. Also called
calamus.
...
8. A hollow shaft that rotates on a solid shaft when gears are
engaged.

Thus, it seems that according to (8) any pedals are "quill" pedals
(except perhaps M2 racer pedals). I am still not sure about stems,
though. If the term actually fits the definition then I would think
that any stem would be a "quill" stem.

Is this correct ??

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

On 15 Mar 2006 00:49:29 -0800, (Donald Gillies)
wrote:

I have always wondered why traditional stems and pedals were called
"quill" stems and pedals. Then, I found out in the yahoo dictionary
that the definitions are :

1. The hollow stemlike main shaft of a feather. Also called
calamus.
...
8. A hollow shaft that rotates on a solid shaft when gears are
engaged.

Thus, it seems that according to (8) any pedals are "quill" pedals
(except perhaps M2 racer pedals). I am still not sure about stems,
though. If the term actually fits the definition then I would think
that any stem would be a "quill" stem.

Is this correct ??

As I understand it, the engineering usage of "quill" is generally for
long concentric tubular or tapered tubular structures. A quill stem
certainly fits that description, as does the quill of a drill press.
It fits for pedals that employ a long central tube over a central
shaft, but the designation is seldom applied to pedals in modern
usage. Overall, usage of the term "quill" in engineering is fading as
the number of common uses in the rest of society fades as well.

--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Donald Gillies wrote:
I have always wondered why traditional stems and pedals were called
"quill" stems and pedals. Then, I found out in the yahoo dictionary
that the definitions are :

1. The hollow stemlike main shaft of a feather. Also called
calamus.
...
8. A hollow shaft that rotates on a solid shaft when gears are
engaged.

Thus, it seems that according to (8) any pedals are "quill" pedals
(except perhaps M2 racer pedals). I am still not sure about stems,
though. If the term actually fits the definition then I would think
that any stem would be a "quill" stem.

Is this correct ??

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA


Wouldn't know about the pedals, but the fixed part of the tube on the
stem is tapered and somewhat resembles the end of a quill pen.

Donald Gillies writes:

I have always wondered why traditional stems and pedals were called
"quill" stems and pedals. Then, I found out in the yahoo dictionary
that the definitions are :

1. The hollow stemlike main shaft of a feather. Also called
calamus.
...
8. A hollow shaft that rotates on a solid shaft when gears are
engaged.

Thus, it seems that according to (8) any pedals are "quill" pedals
(except perhaps M2 racer pedals). I am still not sure about stems,
though. If the term actually fits the definition then I would think
that any stem would be a "quill" stem.

Is this correct ??

I think the word is derived from a hollow shaft, particularly an
expandable one.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

# 1 a (1) : a bobbin, spool, or spindle on which filling yarn is wound
# (2) : a hollow shaft often surrounding another shaft and used in
# various mechanical devices b : a roll of dried bark cinnamon quills

Jobst Brandt

Donald Gillies wrote:
I have always wondered why traditional stems and pedals were called
"quill" stems and pedals. Then, I found out in the yahoo dictionary
that the definitions are :

1. The hollow stemlike main shaft of a feather. Also called
calamus.
...
8. A hollow shaft that rotates on a solid shaft when gears are
engaged.

Thus, it seems that according to (8) any pedals are "quill" pedals
(except perhaps M2 racer pedals). I am still not sure about stems,
though. If the term actually fits the definition then I would think
that any stem would be a "quill" stem.

Is this correct ??

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

Live & learn... I always thought it was because the angular "beak" that
goes inside the steerer tube resembled the point of the old writing
implement, a "quill pen".

http://www.onlyinhouston.org/attachm...Pen%20scan.jpg

rsquared

rsquared wrote:
Donald Gillies wrote:

I have always wondered why traditional stems and pedals were called
"quill" stems and pedals. Then, I found out in the yahoo dictionary
that the definitions are :

1. The hollow stemlike main shaft of a feather. Also called
calamus.
...
8. A hollow shaft that rotates on a solid shaft when gears are
engaged.

Thus, it seems that according to (8) any pedals are "quill" pedals
(except perhaps M2 racer pedals). I am still not sure about stems,
though. If the term actually fits the definition then I would think
that any stem would be a "quill" stem.

Is this correct ??

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA


Live & learn... I always thought it was because the angular "beak" that
goes inside the steerer tube resembled the point of the old writing
implement, a "quill pen".

http://www.onlyinhouston.org/attachm...Pen%20scan.jpg

rsquared


That was always my take on it too.

And the quill pedal is the one with the outside "beak" (often as
annoying as a porcupine quill to those with wide feet.) and is usually
the main difference between "Road" and "Track" clip and strap pedals.


Marcus

Two different things...

On a stem, it's the "classic" stem with a tube that goes down inside the
fork's steering tube.

On (old) pedals like from the 80s and before, the ones with toe clips
and straps, the "quill" was a raised portion on the outside of the pedal
cage where it curved around (one-piece cages) - that is, opposite the
crank end. It supposedly held and supported the foot. In reality, it
limited how wide a foot you could have. Those with wide feet either cut
the silly thing off or they used "track" pedals.

Donald Gillies wrote:
I have always wondered why traditional stems and pedals were called
"quill" stems and pedals. Then, I found out in the yahoo dictionary
that the definitions are :

1. The hollow stemlike main shaft of a feather. Also called
calamus.
...
8. A hollow shaft that rotates on a solid shaft when gears are
engaged.

Thus, it seems that according to (8) any pedals are "quill" pedals
(except perhaps M2 racer pedals). I am still not sure about stems,
though. If the term actually fits the definition then I would think
that any stem would be a "quill" stem.

Is this correct ??

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

On 15 Mar 2006 12:32:12 -0800, "rsquared" wrote:

Live & learn... I always thought it was because the angular "beak" that
goes inside the steerer tube resembled the point of the old writing
implement, a "quill pen".

Those angular things are pretty new on the quill stem scene, it always
used to be a slit up the side of the tube plus a circular expander wedge.

Jasper

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 13:22:14 GMT, Jasper Janssen
wrote:

Those angular things are pretty new on the quill stem scene, it always
used to be a slit up the side of the tube plus a circular expander wedge.

Even on low-cost bikes?

JT


****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************

Jasper Janssen wrote:
On 15 Mar 2006 12:32:12 -0800, "rsquared" wrote:

Live & learn... I always thought it was because the angular "beak"
that goes inside the steerer tube resembled the point of the old
writing implement, a "quill pen".

Those angular things are pretty new on the quill stem scene, it always
used to be a slit up the side of the tube plus a circular expander
wedge.

Where have you been? Haven't seen you posting lately.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training