Simpson Chain
The
Simpson Chain or
Simpson Lever Chain was an
English-made
bicycle chain invented by William Spears Simpson in
1895. The design of this chain departed radically from the standard roller bicycle chain. The chain was composed of linked triangles forming two "levels". The inner level was driven by the chainring and the outer level drove the rear cog. Instead of teeth, the chainring and cog had grooves into which the rollers of the chain engaged.
Mr. Simpson made, widely discredited, claims that the levers of this chain provided a mechanical advantage that could amplify the energy produced by the cyclist. Racing teams were sponsored amid much fanfare as Mr. Simpson hired top cyclists (such as Constant Huret, who is depicted in Lautrec's famous advertisement, and Tom Linton of Paris-Bordeaux fame) and the Gladiator Pacing Team from France to race for high stakes in England for the Chain Matches. His teams were largely successful.
This invention would probably have been long forgotten except that
Known in the
German language as der
Simpson Hebel-Kette.
Known in the
French language as la
ChaÎne a Levier Simpson.
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