Founded in 1883, the Quadrant Cycle Co was renowned for quality of workmanship and was one of the world’s leading manufacturer of tricycles. They introduced many patents for new innovations in both tricycles and bicycles.
Lloyd’s cross roller gear was patented by Walter J Lloyd and William Priest in 1897. Unlike the bevel gear system used in France (Acatene) and America (Colonel Pope of Columbia Cycles bought the French patent), the Lloyd Cross Roller uses spin rollers throughout the drive system.
Though Quadrant promoted the Chainless bicycle in Britain, it failed to catch on here. The primary issue was that normal British chain-driven bicycles were built to such a high standard – the best in the world – that there was not really any need to buy a bicycle using an alternative system of propulsion.
For a cycle manufacturer, a shaft-driven bicycle required a major investment not only in its production but also in its marketing, and Quadrant’s experience with the Chainless, as well as their earlier spring frame (patented 1891) and the new Quadrant Motor Bicycle proved to be the company’s downfall: they went into liquidation in 1907.
They were the only British cycle manufacturer to develop and build their own chainless bicycle gear – when Rover introduced a chainless model in 1913, they used the German Durkopp gear (it ceased production a year later as a result of World War One).
Below you can see Walter J Lloyd, the inventor of Lloyd’s Cross Roller gear, being driven by William Priest Junior in a 1904 Quadrant Tri-car. They were both directors of Quadrant Cycle Co.
1902 Quadrant Chainless Road Racer
25″ Frame
28″ Wheels
Freewheel with Band brake
Brooks Model B28 saddle
Quadrant capitalised on Harry Chinn’s record-breaking rides at Crystal Palace in 1900 on their chainless racing machine to promote their shaft-driven models. Note that in their 1901 catalogue, they add a warning underneath the details of the ‘Quadrant Chainless Racer’ –
“If this machine is ridden on the road, whether with racing or roadster tyres, the rider takes all risks.”
That fixed-wheel ‘Racer’ model was sold by special order, with customers sending in their personal requirements; its frame may also have used thinner metal, a common way to reduce the weight of racing machines (and the main reason few racers have survived).
The ‘Road Racer’, however, illustrated below, was sold as a normal road-going bicycle. It had various rider-friendly options such as freewheel and front or rear brakes. (You can compare both racers in the catalogue further down the page).
There was also a handlebar chart to choose a style. The ‘Road Racer’ (below) is shown with ‘Handlebar C, half-drooper, for road racers.’ But the machine featured here has ‘Handlebar D, low-drooper for racers’.
This makes it look more like the Racer, but takes advantage of the freewheel and band brake options (and a more substantial frame) available on the Road Racer.
1901 QUADRANT CATALOGUE EXTRACTS
THE LLOYD CROSS ROLLER GEAR
INSIDE THE LLOYD CROSS ROLLER GEAR CASE
The above photos come from a Quadrant Chainless without a gear case that I sold some years ago.
QUADRANT FREE WHEEL AND BACK-PEDALLING BAND BRAKE
QUADRANT: THE ONLY BRITISH MANUFACTURER OF A CHAINLESS GEAR
Founded in 1883, the Quadrant Cycle Co was renowned for quality of workmanship and was one of the world’s leading manufacturer of tricycles. They introduced many patents for new innovations in both tricycles and bicycles.
Lloyd’s cross roller gear was patented by Walter J Lloyd and William Priest in 1897. Unlike the bevel gear system used in France (Acatene) and America (Colonel Pope of Columbia Cycles bought the French patent), the Lloyd Cross Roller uses spin rollers throughout the drive system.
Though Quadrant promoted the Chainless bicycle in Great Britain, chainless bicycles failed to catch on here. By the turn of the century, normal chain-driven bicycles were built to such a high standard in Britain – they were the best and most expensive in the world – that there was not really any need for a bicycle with an alternative system of propulsion.
Its selling price was pitched just under that of one of the most expensive bicycles, the Centaur Featherweight – 18 guineas as against 19 guineas. I’m sure Quadrant would have liked to make it even more expensive, but I reckon the Featherweight was the benchmark, there being one major difference between the two models – the Featherweight was one of the fastest lightweight machines on the road, while the Quadrant was a novelty, more suitable for city use than speeding down country roads.
For a cycle manufacturer, a shaft-driven bicycle required a major investment not only in its production but also in its marketing, and Quadrant’s experience with the Chainless, as well as their earlier spring frame (patented 1891) and the new Quadrant Motor Bicycle proved to be the company’s downfall: operational expenses spiralled and they went into liquidation in 1907.
Though no other British cycle maker dared to invest in making chainless cycles, two makers sold them: Humber marketed the French Acatene in 1897 as a Humber Chainless, and Rover brought out a Chainless model in 1913 that used the German Durkopp gear, ceasing production a year later when we went to war with Germany. (You can see examples of both on this website).
Few Quadrant Chainless machines survive. But because of their novelty and interesting design, the model has become an essential exhibit for the country’s top museums: the Science Museum, Coventry Transport Museum, Hull Street Life Museum and Oxford Bus Museum have an example on display. The Online Bicycle Museum is the only one with both a Gents and a Lady’s model.
No. 47. “Quadrant” bicycle, fitted with Lloyd’s “Cross-roller” gear, patent No. 6435/1897. Weight of complete machine 35 lbs. Presented by E. Figg. The rear portion of a frame is shown, separately, to demonstrate the mechanism of the gear; this was presented by A. R. Wayte, of Dublin.
This gear was a development of — but a great improvement upon — the bevel system of driving; when two “teeth,” one driving and one driven, engaged each other, each was free to revolve on a fixed stud: this minimised the friction which is inseparable from any rigid mechanical method of conveying rotary drive round a right-angled corner. The hollow shaft, enclosing the usual chain-stay, revolved on ball-bearings. A letter from Walter John Lloyd, inventor of the gear, accompanies the exhibit. Mr. Lloyd (who is still alive) was an extremely clever engineer, and was responsible for the many ingenious innovations which were embodied in “Quadrant ” cycles. Notable among these were the special method of mounting the front wheel of a tricycle, which helped to make the “Quadrant” of 1886-1890 such a popular
Mr. Lloyd also devised a very efficient spring-frame, while his back-pedaling band-brake* (fitted to exhibit No. 47) will repay careful examination. Note also the extension from the fork crown, strengthening each blade.*
Harry Chinn, of Birmingham — brother of the more famous Fred. Chinn — made several records on the Crystal Palace track, using a “Quadrant” racing bicycle with Lloyd’s cross-roller gear. He ran third in the 50-miles National Championship, and covered 29 miles 465 yards in one hour (15th September, 1900).
