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Pedaling Via the Past
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Frank Bowden (1848- 1921) was the founder of the Raleigh Cycle Co and the inventor of the Bowden Cable.
Born on 30 January 1848 in Bristol, the son of William Bowden (d. 1866), a Bristol manufacturer, and his wife, Louise (d. 1879), daughter of Henry White of Bath.
1879 He met and married Amelia Frances (d. 1937), daughter of Colonel Alexander Houston, one of the pioneers of California State.
When Bowden was 24 years old he made a fortune in the stock market place. When he returned from Hong Kong he was seriously ill. His medical doctor gave him 6 months to reside. On his doctor’s tips, Bowden took up cycling. Right after recovering from the illness he bought the company exactly where he initially purchased his bicycle.
Sir Frank Bowden purchased a bike from a small firm of cycle makers on Raleigh Street in Nottingham. Inside a quick period Sir Frank Bowden had recovered and became increasingly interested in cycling. Impressed with his bike, Sir Frank Bowden purchased an interest in the firm who produced it which at the time was creating three bikes a week. Production rose, and three years later Bowden required a bigger workshop, which he located in a 4-storey developing in Russell Street. He changed the company’s name to Raleigh Cycles to commemorate the original address.
In December 1888 The Raleigh Cycle Business was founded as a restricted liability private firm. It grew swiftly and within a few years was a huge public firm capitalised at £100,000 equivalent to about £5m these days.
By 1896 it was the biggest bicycle manufacturer in the planet.
He died of heart failure at his home, Bestwood Lodge, Bestwood Park, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, on 25 April 1921.
His only son, Harold Bowden, succeeded to the baronetcy and assumed manage of the organization.
It is 1 of the oldest bicycle businesses in the planet. From 1929 to 1935 Raleigh also produced motorcycles and three-wheel automobiles, major to the formation of the Reliant Organization.
In 1939 Raleigh opened a bicycle factory at six Hanover Quay, Dublin, Ireland and commenced bicycle production there. The Raleigh (Ireland) enterprise expanded and moved to eight-11 Hanover Quay, Dublin in 1943. The plant produced comprehensive bicycles and Sturmey-Archer hubs, and remained in production until 1976, when the factory burned down. Models developed there latterly have been the Chopper and Triumph 20. The head badges changed in the late 1960s, possibly after the passing of the Trade Descriptions Act in the UK. Dublin-produced machines no longer had "Made in Nottingham" on the Heron or Triumph head badge, the panel getting left blank alternatively.
The Raleigh Chopper
The Raleigh Chopper was launched in Canada June 1969 as a children’s bicycle. It went on sale in the UK in 1970 and sold nicely, and was a essential factor in reviving the company’s fortunes.
The Chopper featured a 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gear hub, chosen utilizing a frame-mounted car-like gear lever — one particular of its "cool" functions. Other differences had been the uncommon frame, lengthy padded seat with backrest, sprung suspension at the back, high-rise handlebars, and differently sized front (16") and rear (20") wheels.
Tyres had been wider than usual for the time, with a chunky tread on the rear wheel, featuring red highlights on the sidewall. The cost was from approximately £32 for a normal Chopper to £55 for the deluxe. Two smaller sized versions, the Chipper and Tomahawk, also sold well.
The Mk 2 Chopper was an improved version from 1972. It had the alternative of 5-speed derailleur gears, but kept the gear lever. The Mk 2 also moved the rear wheel additional back, to help prevent the bike tipping up. The Chopper remained in production till 1982, when the increasing reputation of the BMX bicycle triggered sales to drop off. Even so, the Chopper practically single-handedly rescued Raleigh, selling millions worldwide.
2002 – Raleigh’s Triumph Road factory lastly closed yesterday as bicycle production is becoming transferred to the Far East.
Sources: Graces Guide
www.gracesguide.co.uk/wiki/Major_Web page
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中國香港銅鑼灣告士打道280號世界貿易中心
中国香港铜锣湾告士打道280号世界贸易中心
Planet Trade Centre, 280 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong