Author Topic: SOLD -RARE EWART CHAIN COLUMBIA HW SAFETY, ADULT TRICYCLE, LIGHT ROADSTER SAFETY  (Read 2183 times)

mike cates

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 164
    • View Profile
WHEELMEN HISTORY LESSON 101.
TOPIC - CHARLES EWART AND HIS IMPORTANCE TO ANTIQUE BICYCLE CHAINS:

Charles Ewart was the inventor of the detachable link chain used in early farm industry. The idea was so the farmer could repair a bad link when out in the field on a piece of horse-drawn chain driven farm equipment without the use of tools. This chain worked well as when it got packed with dirt it would be self-cleaning due to it's desgin. Once in awhile a small rock would get picked up by the chain and lodge itself between the chain and sprocket and break or bend a link. The farmer would simply un tension the chain via a idler sprocket mounted on a pivoted locking lever, take out the bad chain link by hand, reach into his box or bag of spare links and replace it, re tension the chain and be on his way again.
The chain is taken apart/ re assembled by pivoting the "rectangular frame" and "block with hooks" to align the tip of the hook in the block to the v-slot forged into the frame link and slide the two pieces sideways to detach or re assemble them........simple, no tools needed, thanks to Charles Ewart!
The farm equipment Ewart chain was much wider and heavier and Pope had it modified narrower and lighter in weight for use on his early bicycles and tricycles.

The 1st pattern Ewart detachable link chain was used on the 1888 Columbia Veloce (Pope's first hard tire safety). It's design had the "block" and "hook" all made in one piece and each connected to the next link.

This original 2nd pattern Ewart detachable link chain (shown in photos), has an improved design having separate "block with hooks" and "rectangular frame" pieces that connect to each other and is correct for 1889 onwards Columbia (Camelback) Light Roadster Hard Tire and Cushion Tire Safety, Columbia Ladies Hard Tire and Cushion Tire Safety, Columbia Two and Three Track High Wheel Adult Tricycle,  and Columbia kangaroo-style front wheel chain driven  high wheel bicycle.
 
This chain is very serviceable in it's present as found condition with all links loose and all detachable by hand as was the original purpose of this chain
 
Clean it, oil it, use it, restore/nickel plate and display it.

A rare-to-find chain, as you know, that is complete and THE ONLY CHAIN that will fit the sprockets used on the above Columbia models of these early years.

$500 plus shipping cost.

Mike Cates, CA.
(760) 473-6201
cates0321@hotmail.com
« Last Edit: September 20, 2019, 06:15:12 AM by mike cates »

mike cates

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 164
    • View Profile
Re: RARE EWART CHAIN COLUMBIA HW SAFETY, ADULT TRICYCLE, LIGHT ROADSTER SAFETY
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2019, 06:14:10 AM »
SOLD.
Mike Cates, CA.