http://www.leevalley.com/newsletters/Woodworking/2/3/article1.htm
Probably not a practical bicycle but quite a piece of woodworking for
a 16-year old.
Regards,
Anthony
That is a young man that really has the potential to go somewhere with
his life.
I enjoyed reading the writeup, too.
Thanks.
Lewis.
*****
Dear Anthony,
A previous 25-cent version of the wooden bicycle was built in 1896 by
a 14-year-old boy with less impressive woodworking tools and skills.
A perforated leather belt and some sort of sprockets had to be added,
but otherwise the two-bit bike pleased the editors of "Scientific
American," who rode it up and down the office:
http://i15.tinypic.com/6jyivz4.jpg
Cheers,
Carl Fogel
Carl,
I'm amazed that they used leather belts back then... belt drives are
slowly creeping into the industry in single speed applications.
However, this looks more sound than having a wooden belt in the
previous case. I wonder how much Marco Facciola (sounds Italian) rode
on it.
Not to forget mentioning that the boy must have been really skilled to
crave the chain links to dimension, and replicate a lot of them.
Cool...
I take it chainlube wouldn't work in this case.
-tom
Did he wear a wooden helmet?
Don't take any wooden nickels Leo ;-)
-tom
>>> carlfo...@comcast.net wrote:
>>>> A previous 25-cent version of the wooden bicycle was built in 1896 by
>>>> a 14-year-old boy with less impressive woodworking tools and skills.
>>>> A perforated leather belt and some sort of sprockets had to be added,
>>>> but otherwise the two-bit bike pleased the editors of "Scientific
>>>> American," who rode it up and down the office:
>>>> http://i15.tinypic.com/6jyivz4.jpg
>> Ron George <ron.r.geo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I'm amazed that they used leather belts back then... belt drives are
>>> slowly creeping into the industry in single speed applications.
>>> However, this looks more sound than having a wooden belt in the
>>> previous case. I wonder how much Marco Facciola (sounds Italian) rode
>>> on it.
> "Ron George" <ron.r....@gmail.com> wrote
>> Not to forget mentioning that the boy must have been really skilled to
>> crave the chain links to dimension, and replicate a lot of them.
>> Cool...
Tom Nakashima wrote:
> I take it chainlube wouldn't work in this case.
Is there a 12-step program for those who crave chain links?
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
Yes, it is an Italian name.
I wonder what woodworking tools, what woods and what glues he has
used. Is there a more detailed account of it, or Marco's @-mail
address to ask him?
And, boy, that bike has got to be noisy to ride.
By the way, what brake blocks, or coaster brake, did he install?
Have I missed the details.
Just prior to WWII a very expert cabinet maker in my hometown made an
(almost all) wooden bike which he actually rode around town quite a
while, as my father told me. I have been able to admire that bike a
few years ago: a wonderful achievement, but he was a very refined
professional of the art.
Sergio
Pisa