Best of British (Components)
- Thread starter Canuk
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Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
Chater-Lea was founded by William Chater Lea in 1890. The now well known hyphenated name was adopted by the company some 30-years after founding in the mid-1920s for aesthetic reasons.
William Chater Lea (born 1859) acquired his early engineering skills while an apprentice at Linley and Biggs, producer of the legendary Whippet. Grace’s Guide, a website dedicated to British industrial history, describes the Whippet as a “machine that embodied the most practical and successful spring-frame ever designed, it’s great feature being that the relative positions of the saddle, pedals, and handlebar, did not vary, these three points being built on a rigid triangle, separated from the main frame by a strong coil spring and a movable shackle in the steering mechanism. Thus it was impossible for road shocks, from either wheel, to reach the rider.”
William Chater Lea (born 1859) acquired his early engineering skills while an apprentice at Linley and Biggs, producer of the legendary Whippet. Grace’s Guide, a website dedicated to British industrial history, describes the Whippet as a “machine that embodied the most practical and successful spring-frame ever designed, it’s great feature being that the relative positions of the saddle, pedals, and handlebar, did not vary, these three points being built on a rigid triangle, separated from the main frame by a strong coil spring and a movable shackle in the steering mechanism. Thus it was impossible for road shocks, from either wheel, to reach the rider.”
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
From 1925, it’s a very rare Chater-Lea disc adjusting hub with a splined fixed sprocket and circlip – the only one I’ve ever seen. So nice to see also is the original Chater-Lea oiler and cap – these very rarely survive with the cap intact. The sprocket is so easy to remove and replace. Eat your heart out Sturmey-Archer!
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Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
In 1946 Chater-Lea designed a freewheel which ran using three rollers instead of the usual pawls and springs. Only the prototype was made and it never reached the market. Above are photographs and one of the original works drawings with Bernard Chater-Lea’s pencil notes on the top left corner.
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
From its founding Chater-Lea engaged in continuous invention and innovation in manufacturing. During the first year in business the firm patented an ingenious chain-protecting cover. This consisted of an endless rubber band, U-shaped, and reinforced by a canvas insertion. This enclosed the outer surface of the chain, rotated with it, and utilized a dry lubricant which did not perish the rubber. About a year later the company launched a new light mudguard that could be rolled up like a blind.
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