How many remember this?
Oct 5, 2019 13:10:24 #
G. Crook
Loc: Linden, TX
Yes, that is a “way back”! I also remember a clothespin and a playing card in the spokes.
Oct 5, 2019 14:22:12 #
I thought that was the invention of the decade. They came on English Bikes, no Japanese rice burner then.
Oct 5, 2019 14:22:28 #
Oct 5, 2019 15:51:06 #
Shel
Loc: Lecanto FL
bpulv wrote:
I had one on a racing bike. When you engaged it, the mechanical load was noticeable in the form of the increased effort necessary to pedal the bike. Also, when you stopped, the power stopped and your lights went out (a safety issue). I ended up removing and discarding it. I replace my original battery powered lights. The batteries had to be replaced frequently, however I always had light when I needed it and I could pedal as easily at night as I did during the day.
I remember the light going off when I stopped peddling. My father hooked up a battery in the line but that was before the days of rechargeable batteries, and the batteries died. In the late 1950s when I was a patent examiner we had two categories for classifying batteries. Rechargeable (car batteries) and non-rechargeable (flashlight batteries). We had to group the rechargeable (D, C cells etc.) with non-rechargeable batteries. The Patent Office classification system eventually caught up with the technology.
Oct 5, 2019 16:16:57 #
As I remember, rarely used my brakes when using the generator. Never was able to go fast enough to use my brakes.
Oct 5, 2019 18:27:21 #
I had a wheel generator to power a headlight on my bike when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Afghanistan, but it did make a drag and we usually didn't keep them active. No street lights, of course.
Oct 5, 2019 18:53:28 #
Yes, batteries. Does anyone remember the old lead-acid batteries of the 50's? The outside of the battery was a cardboard tube, and before you knew it they ruptured acid and ruined your stuff.
Oct 5, 2019 20:19:49 #
markngolf wrote:
I suspect many - we seem to be an "older" crowd. I stole this from a Facebook post. I thought it might jog some enjoyable memories. It did for me.
Mark
Mark
Oh, yeah, Mark. I had one on my "English Racer" bike. So simple to use and no batteries needed. It was a 26" bike I had until I was 16. At that age, you know what I was riding.
Oct 5, 2019 22:09:45 #
Oct 5, 2019 22:46:51 #
It was a lot better then the old carbide headlights. Every one of my bikes had one back in Germany. To bad it does not show the old brakes, the still scare the hell out of me. Thanks for posting Mark.
WJH
WJH
Oct 5, 2019 23:10:56 #
I remember these generators well...still have a serviceable one on a Raleigh bike hanging in my garage. Never had to worry about batteries going dead but then again you had no lights if your rear tire was rotating.
Oct 5, 2019 23:11:00 #
Ched49 wrote:
I've had a few myself. I used to tie balloons to the fork so it hit's the spokes, sounds like the bike has a motor when your moving...kids had to improvise beck in those days.
We used playing cards and clothes pins to get the same effect.
Oct 5, 2019 23:36:51 #
[quote=markngolf]I suspect many - we seem to be an "older" crowd. I stole this from a Facebook post. I thought it might jog some enjoyable memories. It did for me.
Mark[/quote
Your post and everyone’s comments sure have brought back many memories Mark. And I believe you are correct when you say we seem to be an “older crowd”
In fact I would love to have the ability take a survey of all members to determine the average age of
all Hogs.
Mark[/quote
Your post and everyone’s comments sure have brought back many memories Mark. And I believe you are correct when you say we seem to be an “older crowd”
In fact I would love to have the ability take a survey of all members to determine the average age of
all Hogs.
Oct 6, 2019 00:25:39 #
I assume you are talking about the generator. Used to power a headlight and the faster the wheel rotation the brighter the headlight.
Oct 6, 2019 04:47:02 #
Avabash
Loc: Lymington, Old England.
Markngolf mentioned bicycles, when i was a boy in france in the twenties, pedal bicycles were taxed.
An aluminium strip was wound round the crossbar. Playing cards were taxed. Cigarette lighters were taxed.Thank heaven they stopped all that during WWll.
Now 96yrs young ,I enjoy my hedgehog report every day. Regards to all over ninety!!
An aluminium strip was wound round the crossbar. Playing cards were taxed. Cigarette lighters were taxed.Thank heaven they stopped all that during WWll.
Now 96yrs young ,I enjoy my hedgehog report every day. Regards to all over ninety!!
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