What distinguished Edmund Hodgkinson's 1896 Gradient derailleur system?
Answer
It moved the cassette of sprockets sideways while keeping the chain straight
Edmund Hodgkinson's *Gradient* derailleur, patented in the UK in 1896, represented a distinct approach compared to Jean Loubeyre’s earlier design. While Loubeyre’s system was a dead-end, Hodgkinson’s mechanism focused on shifting by physically moving the entire cluster of sprockets (the cassette) sideways. This crucial action allowed the chain to be guided onto the next cog while maintaining a relatively straight path, distinguishing it from designs that might involve lifting or sharply derailing the chain. Although Hodgkinson did put his device into production, it ultimately struggled commercially against emerging hub gears.
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