Improved Alloy for use in the Manufacture of Bicycles and Tricycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Alloy for use in the Manufacture of Bicycles and
Tricycles.
WILLIAM ARCHIBALD BRIGGS Clerk &c. 4 Erskine Terrace Dundee Scotland
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The use of the metal aluminium with the admixture of from 1 to 49 per cent. of
copper nickel &c. or any other metal to increase its hardness, malleability or
ductility for the manufacture of the metal parts of bicycles, & tricycles instead of
steel or iron, thus greatly diminishing the weight & enabling it to be much more
easily propelled, and a higher speed to be attained. An alloy consisting of 95 per
cent. of aluminium & 5 per cent. of copper forms the cheapest metal which possesses
the necessary properties for the above purpose.
Dated this 22nd day of Sentember 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Alloy for use in the Manufacture of Bicycles and
Tricycles.
WILLIAM ARCHIBALD BRIGGS Clerk &c. 4 Erskine Terrace, Dundee, 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 :-
My invention consists in the use of an alloy of aluminium with copper, nickel, or
tin in the proportions of 100 parts by weight with, from 1 to 49 parts, by weight,
of coppers nickel, or tin; or of aluminium alloyed with any mixture of any of these
three metals copper, nickel and tin in the proportions of 100 parts of aluminium
with from 1 to 49 parts, by weight, of any of the said mixtures, in the manufacture
of metal parts of bicycles, and tricycles, instead of the steel, iron, gun-metal or
brass generally used. The proportions which give the most suitable metal for the
purpose, combining great lightness, and strength, with the necessary workable
qualities are 100 parts of aluminium with about 6 parts of copper, or 3 parts of
nickel, or about 10 parts of tin, all by weight. This alloy is only about one third the
weight of steel, and about two thirds as strong, so that a slight increase in the
thickness of the various parts gives a bicycle, or tricycle the usual strength with a
diminution in weight of 50 per cent. This metal is also of a beautiful light silver
colour, and will never rust, or become blackened, or discoloured on exposure to the
atmosphere. The bearing surfaces may be made of aluminium bronze, a harder
alloy of aluminium (aluminium 90 per cent. copper 10 per cent.) & also incorrodible,
on exposure. The frame, forks, rims, spokes, hubs, cranks, handle bar, mud-guards,
and bar for holding the saddle are the parts for which this improved alloy is most
suitable. It can be cast, hammered, rolled, stamped, drawn into tubes, or wires as
required for the different parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The use, in constructing the metal parts of bicycles, and tricycles, of an

page_text: improved alloy consisting of 100 parts of aluminium, and from 1 to 49 parts, by
weight, of copper, nickel, or tin, or from 1 to 49 parts of any mixture of any two of,
or of these three metals.
Dated this
de of Decombou 1901