Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD HARRISON, of 84, Bishopsgate Street, in the City,
of London, Manufacturer's Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by The Gendron Manufacturing Company.
Limited, carrying on business at the corner of Duchess and Ontario Streets, in the
City of Toronto, and Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, Manufac-
turers), to be as follows;-
--
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with velocipedes, and has
for its object to improve certain details of manufacture and finish of such machines.
Cycle frames are generally either finished bright or are coated with enamel and in
either case they are liable to become scratched and otherwise injured in such manner
that the appearance of the machine is speedily impaired.
Now according to the first part of the present invention instead of giving the
usual enamel finish to the frame some of these parts for example the crown and
lower ends of the front fork, the rear end of the chain stay and the lower ends of
the rear fork or forks are electro-coated with nickel and polished bright whilst the
other parts of the frame which are also electro-coated are in the process of manu-
facture dulled or frosted so as to give thereto the appearance of aluminum.
This kind of finish forms a pleasing contrast to the bright parts, is easy to keep
clean, effective in resisting the action of dust and rust will not be injured by
scratching or rubbing, whilst at the same time all enamelling is dispensed with.
Various joints of a cycle frame are usually formed by means of lugs or brackets
welded or brazed onto the principal parts of the frame and socketed to receive the
various tubes and stays which are introduced into the sockets and there brazed or
welded, but this method of joining the frame is both expensive, troublesome, and
forms a number of weak points where the frame is liable to give out, inasmuch as
a great number of such joints require to be made in a single frame.
Now according to the second part of the present invention the said lugs or brackets
are entirely dispensed with, and the various stays and parts of the frame are con-
nected directly together, and the difficulties above pointed out are thereby obviated.
For this purpose the various stays of the frame which consist of light steel tubes
are split at their ends and lapped round the part to which they are to be connected
and brazed or welded directly thereto and the use of intervening lugs is thereby
Hispensed with, the frame is of lighter construction than heretofore, whilst its
strength is materially improved inasmuch as there are fewer joints.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1897.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.

page_text: improvements in or connected with velocipedes.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD HARRISON, of 84, Bishopsgate Street Within, in the City
of London, Manufacturer's Agent (a communication from The Gendron Manufac-
turing Company, Limited, carrying on business at the corner of Duchess and
Ontario Streets, in the City of Toronto, and Province of Ontario, in the Dominion
of Canada, Manufacturers), do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement: -
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with velocipedes and has
for its object to improve the finish or appearance of such machines.
Cycle frames are generally either finished bright or are coated with enamel and
in either case they are liable to become scratched and otherwise injured in such a
manner that the appearance of the machine is speedily impaired.
Now according to this invention instead of giving the usual enamel finish to the
frame some of the parts of the frame, for example the crown and lower ends of
the front fork, the rear end of the chain stay and the lower ends of the rear fork
or forks are electro-coated and polished bright whilst the other parts of the frame
are left dulled or frosted so as to give such parts the appearance of aluminium.
This kind of finish forms a pleasing contrast to the bright parts, is easy to keep
clean, is effective in resisting the action of dust and rust and will not be injured
by scratching or rubbing whilst at the same time enamelling is dispensed with.
In carrying out my invention the frame of the machine after being well polished
is placed in a weak solution of nitro-muriatic acid for about fifteen minutes so as
to ensure a uniform tint; it is then rinsed in cold water and dipped in asulation of
sulphuric acid. It is again rinsed in clear cold water, after which the frame is
placed in the plating vat of a nickel solution, to which aluminium has been added.
The aluminium may be in the form of sulphate in which case about one quarter
of an ounce of sulphate of aluminium is added to each gallou of nickel solution,
and the frame is left in this solution for about one hour and a quarter. The sul-
phate of aluminium ensures a permanent dull finish which could not be obtained
with the regular process of nickel plating. After being taken out of the nickel
solution, the frame is treated to a boiling solution of sal-soda for about thirty
minutes and the process of dulling or frosting is completed. The parts of the frame
to be brightened are then burnished or polished in any suitable known manner.
In practice I find it advantageous to boil the frame thus treated in oil for about
half an hour whereby the inside tubes are rendered almost rust proof and to ensure
this latter to a higher degree the frame is then transferred to a baking oven where
it is subjected to a temperature of about 200° Farht., but no claim is made to this
latter treatment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Electro-plating the frames of velocipedes whereby such frames have a dull
or frosted appearance imparted thereto, substantially as and for the purpose,
described.
2. In the electro-plating of velocipede frames the employment of a solution of
nickel and aluminium as, and for the purpose, described.
3. Velocipede frames which have a dull or frosted appearance imparted thereto

page_text: by the process hereinbefore described, some of the parts of the frame being subse-
quently brightened for the purposes described.
Dated the 12th day of October 1897.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.