1908 Components Ltd Ariel Featherweight X Frame

Charles Sangster of Components Ltd was one of the dominant patent holders for cross frame bicycles.

But the market leader for lightweight – ‘Featherweight’ – cross frames was Centaur Ltd. The Centaur Featherweight X Frame had a similar side profile, but the Centaur patent used narrow duplex tubing (see final photo).

As the Centaur Featherweight was one of the world’s most expensive bicycles, Components Ltd countered this by selling their own frames and parts at wholesale prices through the cycle trade, trading on the ‘Featherweight’ name. Their patent covered two X Frame styles: one with the cross tube ending at the seat tube and the other at the rear axle.

Components Ltd owned Ariel Cycle Co. So as well as selling them as frames and fittings for other companies to add their individual names, they offered them as Ariel models with a variety of fittings. This example has the same Williams chainset used by Centaur.