Titanium bikes

Steve Gerdemann said:

Does anyone know when the first titanium bikes were made? We have a custom
job made here in 1972. I'm guessing this is not the first but before any
titanium bikes were readily available to the public.

The earliest production Ti bike I can recall was made by Teledyne:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Teledyne/Teledyne_titan.htm

The first one I saw was at a trade show, either 1973 or 1974.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

Schwinn in 1956 made a titanium bike along with an aircraft company (Boeing??)
to show the non millitary use of titanium. It was part of the Schwinn museum
collection that was on display in the bicycle museum in Chicago till everything
was auction off at it's close. I believe that it is now in another bicycle
museum north of Dayton, Ohio. This was not a production model but it's amazing
that a ti bicycle did exsist that far back.

(EdDyMeRkX) said:

Schwinn in 1956 made a titanium bike along with an aircraft company (Boeing??)
to show the non millitary use of titanium. It was part of the Schwinn museum
collection that was on display in the bicycle museum in Chicago till everything
was auction off at it's close. I believe that it is now in another bicycle
museum north of Dayton, Ohio. This was not a production model but it's amazing
that a ti bicycle did exsist that far back.

How much did it weigh?

interesting. didn't the former soviet union field ti frames for some of
their olympic cycling teams in the 60's? i seem to recall seeing an
article on ti being used in their precision persuit track events.
anyone got the scoop?

jb

ps. it's "merckx"

EdDyMeRkX said:

Schwinn in 1956 made a titanium bike along with an aircraft company (Boeing??)
to show the non millitary use of titanium. It was part of the Schwinn museum
collection that was on display in the bicycle museum in Chicago till everything
was auction off at it's close. I believe that it is now in another bicycle
museum north of Dayton, Ohio. This was not a production model but it's amazing
that a ti bicycle did exsist that far back.

"Terry Morse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve Gerdemann said:

Does anyone know when the first titanium bikes were made? We

have a custom

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

job made here in 1972. I'm guessing this is not the first but

before any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

titanium bikes were readily available to the public.

The earliest production Ti bike I can recall was made by

Teledyne:

Quoted message said:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Teledyne/Teledyne_titan.htm

Quoted message said:

The first one I saw was at a trade show, either 1973 or 1974.

I think Speedwell had them beat by a few years. I believe they
had limited production in the '60s. I saw them before the
Teledyne's, but then again, that could be a matter of personal
experience and not market presence. -- Jay Beattie.