GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
"The Bowden mechanism was invented by Ernest Mornington Bowden (1860 - 1904) of 35 Bedford Place, London, W.C. The first patent was granted in 1896. (English Patent 25,325 and U.S. Pat. No. 609,570) although its origin has been the subject of myth and dispute. The invention of the Bowden cable has been popularly attributed to Frank Bowden, founder and owner of the Raleigh Cycle Co who, c.1902, was reputed to have started replacing the rigid rods used for brakes with a flexible wound cable. Although this may or may not be the case, it is recorded that Frank Bowden (on behalf of Raleigh) had joined the syndicate that was exploiting E. M. Bowden's patent.
The principal element of this mechanism was a flexible tube (made from hard wound wire and fixed at each end) containing a length of fine wire rope that could slide within the tube, directly transmitting pulling, pushing or turning movements on the wire rope from one end to the other without the need of pulleys or flexible joints. The cable was particularly intended for use in conjunction with bicycle brakes, although it had the potential for other applications.
The Bowden Brake was launched amidst a flurry of enthusiasm in the cycle press in 1896. It consisted of a stirrup, pulled up by the cable from a handlebar mounted lever, with rubber pads acting against the rear wheel rim."
"It is reported that "on 12th January 1900 E. M. Bowden granted a licence to The Raleigh Cycle Company of Nottingham", whose directors were Frank Bowden and Edward Harlow. At this signing they became members of the E. M. Bowden's Patents Syndicate Ltd. The syndicate included, among others, Richard Henry Lea and Graham Ingoldsby Francis of Lea-Francis, and William Riley of the Riley Cycle Co.
The Raleigh Cycle Co was soon offering the Bowden Brake as an accessory, and were quick to incorporate the cable into handlebar mounted Sturmey-Archer (which Raleigh owned) gear changes. Undoubtedly this is why E. Bowden and F. Bowden are sometimes confused today. "
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Bowden_Cable
Unfortunately, as a Boden, I'm not related.
The principal element of this mechanism was a flexible tube (made from hard wound wire and fixed at each end) containing a length of fine wire rope that could slide within the tube, directly transmitting pulling, pushing or turning movements on the wire rope from one end to the other without the need of pulleys or flexible joints. The cable was particularly intended for use in conjunction with bicycle brakes, although it had the potential for other applications.
The Bowden Brake was launched amidst a flurry of enthusiasm in the cycle press in 1896. It consisted of a stirrup, pulled up by the cable from a handlebar mounted lever, with rubber pads acting against the rear wheel rim."
"It is reported that "on 12th January 1900 E. M. Bowden granted a licence to The Raleigh Cycle Company of Nottingham", whose directors were Frank Bowden and Edward Harlow. At this signing they became members of the E. M. Bowden's Patents Syndicate Ltd. The syndicate included, among others, Richard Henry Lea and Graham Ingoldsby Francis of Lea-Francis, and William Riley of the Riley Cycle Co.
The Raleigh Cycle Co was soon offering the Bowden Brake as an accessory, and were quick to incorporate the cable into handlebar mounted Sturmey-Archer (which Raleigh owned) gear changes. Undoubtedly this is why E. Bowden and F. Bowden are sometimes confused today. "
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Bowden_Cable
Unfortunately, as a Boden, I'm not related.
