1898 Quadrant Lady's Chainless – The Online Bicycle Museum

1898 Quadrant Lady’s Chainless

1898 Quadrant Lady’s Chainless

21″ Frame

26 x 1 3/8″ Wheels

Quadrant 1898 patent double rubber pedals

Brooks Model B85 saddle

Dunlop inflator pump

Lucas rear carrier rack

New Departure Miniature bell

Walter John Lloyd’s unique shaft-drive Cross Roller gear was the equal of American chainless bicycles and the Belgian FN and French Metropole, but chainless bicycles did not really take off in Britain. It was developed at a time when chain-driven bicycles were fixed wheel with heavy inch pitch chain, so it provided a lighter option. But by 1900, with the introduction of freewheel and half inch chain, British bicycles had become state-of-the-art machines. So a chainless bicycle was now just a novelty.

While the Gents’ model sold in reasonable quantities, very few of the Lady’s model have survived, suggesting a low production run. This is one of two known survivors. It was restored in the 1990s and is still in excellent condition and ready to ride.