Improvements in Wooden Tubes for Building Cycle Frames, and for other such like Purposes, also in Making Wood Cycle Frames.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1897-Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
Improvements in Wooden Tubes for Building Cycle Frames, and for
other such like Purposes, also in Making Wood Cycle Frames.
JOHN WHITEHEAD, 42, Anglesey Street, Lozells, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick Art Metal Worker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I proceed to carry the same into effect by first preparing very thin Boards or
Veneer, of Birch, Oak, Mahogany, or other suitable Wood, which is afterwards cut
into strips of about one inch wide, and various lengths as required.
I then wind the first strip around a spindle about three quarters of an inch thick,
or any other size that may be required, in a spiral manner, so that the spindle is
entirely covered, and both ends of the strip being temporaly fixed to the spindle.
I then coat the outer surface of the first strip, with glue, or other adhesive
preparation. I then proceed to wind the second strip over the glued surface of the
first strip, in the reverse direction to the first one, whereby the grains of the wood
are crossed, then I wind another strip, after glueing the surface of the second one,
and so glue and wind one strip on to another, until a tube of the desired strength is
obtained, the outer surface is then smoothed and polished, or otherwise finished, and
drawn off, the spindle, when the tube is made, and ready for use.
I may also, instead of making tubes with spiral strips as before mentioned, make
them with straight strips by glueing two or more sheets of veneer together. With
the grains the reverse way to each other; then cut into strips, and bend round the
spindle longways, in several layers of wood until the desired strength is obtained
arranging the joints in various and suitable positions, and when the various strips
have thus been glued one on to another around the spindle, the outer surface is made
true in a lathe or otherwise, and finished off, ready for manipulation, I may arrange
the wood in other different ways, so as to cross grain the wood, and make it into
tube.
The principles, of the Invention being to make tube with various sections or layers
of wood, or combinations of wood and other suitable material, and making wood
cycle frames.
Tubes thus made are specially intended for building frames of cycles, motor-cars,
and for other such like purposes, and the advantage gained over the ordinary
metallic tubes, are less, weight, cheaper, and less viabration.
The manner in which I proceed to make a Wood Frame of a Bicycle, Motor Car, or
other similar Machine, is as follows.
I take the Wood Tube, made as before mentioned of proper or suitable length and
diameter, to fit tight into Metallic Lugs, or Joints, similar to those now used in
Building steel Bicycle Frames, but with this difference. I bore the holes, for
receiving the ends of Tubes, wider at the bottom or extreme end, than at the entrance
for a special purpose, hereinafter mentioned.

page_text: In the ends of the Wood Tube I cut or saw several, Longitudal slit or slots, say,
three quarters of an inch long, and before putting the end of Tube into the Metallic
Joint, I loosely place in it a tapered Metallic or wood plug or wedge, of any suitable
size and length, so that when the end of Tube is put into the Lug or Joint, in the
extreme end or bottom of which is a Flange or Bottom, the Tube is fixed firmly, simply
by knocking or otherwise forcing it in, the effect being the action of forcing or
knocking end of Tube into the Joint, causes the plug or wedge to force the slit or
slotted end of Tube outwards and against the inner side of wide or extreme end of
Lug or Joint, as before mentioned, this firmly wedges or tightens it into the Joint,
making it quite impossible to become loose or break.
In reference to the Wood Frames they may be Japanned Black, or any desired
color, to have the appearance of Metallic Frames, or they may be polished so as to
shew the Natural Grains of the wood, or inay be otherwise finished.
Dated this 17th day of September 1896.
Improvements in Wooden Tubes for Building Cycle Frames, and for
other such like Purposes, also in Making Wood Cycle Frames.
JOHN WHITEHEAD 42 Anglesey Street Lozells Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Art Metal Worker do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
I proceed to carry the same into effect by first preparing very thin Boards or Veneer
of Birch Oak Mahogany or other suitable wood which is afterwards cut into strips of
about one inch wide and various lengths as required.
I then wind the first strip around a spindle about three quarters of an inch thick
or any other size that may be required in a spiral manner so that the spindle is
entirely covered and both ends, of the strip being temporaly fixed to the spindle.
I coat the outer surface of the first strip with Glue, or other adhesive preparation. I
then proceed to wind the second strip over the Glued surface of the first strip in the
reverse directions to the first one. Whereby the Grains of the wood are crossed, then
I wind another strip after glueing the surface of the second one, and so Glue and wind
one Strip on to another until a tube of the desired strength is obtained. The outer
surface is then smoothed and polished or otherwise finished, and drawn off, the
spindle. When the tube is made ready for use. I may also instead of making Tubes
with the spiral strips as before mentioned make them with Straight strips, by glueing
two or more sheets of Veneer together with the grains the reverse way to each other,
then cut into strips and bend round the spindle the outer surface is made true in a
lathe or otherwise and finished off ready for Manipulation.
I may arrange the wood in other different ways so as to cross grain the the wood,
and make it into tube the principle of the invention being to make tube with various
sections or layers of wood, or combinations of wood and other like or suitable Material,
also in making wood cycle Frames. Tubes thus made are intended for Building
Frames, for Cycles Motor Cars and for other such like purposes.
The advantages gained over the ordinary metallic tubes, are less weight, cheaper
and less vibration.
The manner in which I proceed to make a wood Frame of a bicycle, motor car or
other similar machine is as follows.
I take the wood tube made as before mentioned of proper or suitable length and

page_text: diameter, to fit tight into Metallic Lugs, or Joints similar to now used building steel
Bicycle Frames, but with with this difference I Bore the holes for receiving the ends of
tubes wider at the bottom or extreme end than at the entrance, for a Special purpose
hereinafter mentioned. In the ends of the wood tubes I cut or saw several longitudal
slits or slots, say three quarters of an inch long and before putting the end of tube into
the Metallic Joint I loosely place in it a tapered wood plug or wedge of any suitable
size and length so that when the end of tube is put into the lug or joint in the
extreme end or bottom of which is a flange, or bottom. The tube is then fixed
firmly simply by knocking or otherwise forcing it in, the effect being the action of
forcing or knocking end of Tube into the joint causes the plug or wedge, to force the
slit or slotted end of tube outwards and against the inner sides of wide or extreme
end of Lug or joint as before mentioned this firmly wedges or tightens it into the
joint making it quite-impossible to become loose or break.
I will now proceed to describe the Accompanying Drawing.
Figure 1 shews a portion of the wooden tube.
Figure 2 shews the solid Wooden Wedge.
Figure 3 shews the tubular metallic wedge.
Figure 4 shews the lug.
Figure 5 in part section shews all the parts in combination; a is the wooden tube
b is the metallic wedge c is the lug and d d are the slits or slots.
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. Making wooden tubes for cycles and other like Vehicles in the manner herein
described.
2. Making lugs with a tapered or expanded bore or hole for the purpose of jointing
Cycles Frames.
3. Jointing Cycles frames by means of a wooden or metallic wedge in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.