Why is it called a presta valve and who invented it and when?



It's easy to explain Schrader valves:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrader_valve

"Around 1890, after reports of English cyclists' success using
pneumatic tires, August Schrader saw the need for a bicycle tire
valve. By 1891, he produced the Schrader valve. The Schrader valve was
his most popular invention, and is still used today. August’s son,
George, is generally credited with the experimental work that resulted
in the valve's creation."

"Later in 1896, Schrader patented the tire valve cap. Soon after, tire
valves for automobiles were introduced.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Schrader

Here's the patent for the Schrader valve:

http://patentpending.blogs.com/patent_pending_blog/2005/04/the_schrader_va.html

Woods valves are harder, being known also as "English" valves and
"Dunlop" valves. Why are they called "Woods" valves, who invented
them, and when?

And what's the story on presta? Or Presta? There are vague rumors of
France, but also an ugly possibility that the English Preston-Davies
Valve and Tyre Company is lurking in the family tree:

http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=hpv.10706.0012.eml

When I looked in "Bicycles & Tricycles," Sharp shows a "Dunlop" valve
next to another valve in figures 535 and 536. The final paragraph of
the chapter on "Tyres" reads:

"Wood rims are seriously weakened by the comparatively large hole
necessary for the valve-body B. Figure 536 shows a valve fitting,
designed by the author [Sharp himself], in which the smallest possible
hole is required to be drilled through the rim."

It seems unlikely, but am I using what should be called a Sharp
instead of a presta?

Morley Brothers seems to scorn anything but red-blooded American
Schrader valves:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/morley/10.jpg

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/morley/11.jpg

Cheers,

Carl Fogel
 
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] wrote:

snip
>
> And what's the story on presta? Or Presta?

snip
>
> Carl Fogel


For what it's worth, here in Switzerland Presta valves are colloquially
called "French valves" ("franzoesische Ventile").

Regards,
Ned
 

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