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The time period leading up to the 1970s was, in many ways, the "pre-history" of TITANIUM bicycle production. More than anything else, the groundwork was being laid for later developments.
Although elemental TITANIUM had been identified at the end of the 18th century, problems related to its refining kept it from being isolated in pure metalic form until 1910. Unlike Iron, TITANIUM cannot be reduced by heating it with carbon, and instead requires comparatively complicated chemical processes (try saying that ten times fast). Consequently, TITANIUM refining did not become commercially viable until the 1940s.
Recognizing the unique strengths of the metal, in the 1950s the Soviet Union pioneered the use of TITANIUM in the construction of military aircraft and submarines. Before long, the race to refine, stockpile and utilize TITANIUM in aerospace industries was on. In the U.S.A, the Department of Defense created financial incentives to push the commercial sector to develop its TITANIUM refining and construction capabilities for military use (source).
Of course, the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. weren't the only countries to develop TITANIUM working capabilities. Indeed, it was back in England, where TITANIUM had first been identified, that what appears to be the first TITANIUM bicycle was produced.
Established all the way back in 1896, the Birmingham based Phillips Cycle Company started out manufacturing bicycle pedals and rim brakes. In 1920 Phillips was acquired by the holding company Tube Investments. Later, as was common during WWI, Phillips was converted into a military factory. After the war, however, Phillips made a lively return to the bicycle and motorcycle frame market, with the secretary of the company (somewhat pompously) declaring in 1951 that it was "the largest manufacturer of bicycles and accessories in the world."
Still, even if that wasn't quite the case, according to engineer and historian Sam Whitehouse,
"the decade 1950 to 1960 seems to have been the golden era for the manufacture of Phillips bicycles. Of the mass produced machines (in my opinion) Phillips bikes were better made than Raleigh, whilst not being in the same league as, say, Humber, Rudge or Sunbeam which were highly priced and produced in small numbers." (Grace's Guide)
Concerning Phillips' access to TITANIUM in the 1950s, Whitehouse has pointed out that
"IMI [Imperial Metal Industries], a division of ICI [Imperial Chemical Industries], based at Witton, Birmingham, England were- in 1954- manufacturing titanium ingots, forging stock and various fabricated products which had been supplied to the aircraft industry. I feel sure therefore that they would have had the necessary facilities for machining and welding titanium. Witton is only a few miles away from Smethwick where Phillips's 'Credenda Works' was situated."
These images are from a promotional film clip for the 1956 Cycle Show at Earl's Court, England. Richard Hallett's book The Bike Deconstructed suggests that the Phillips frame by itself weighed aprox 2.8 lbs, with the overall weight of the bicycle, as shown above, being 14 lbs 3 oz. That would certainly qualify as a "featherweight" by 1950s standards!
Another film clip, showing the Phillips bike from a different angle, can be seen here.
Regarding the construction of the frame, little can be said other than what is observable from these photos. The design, which makes extensive use of twin, thin-gauge tube construction (the "top-tubes" continue past the seat tube to form the looped seat/chain stays), is farily unique. In combination with the long wheelbase and relaxed geometry, my contention is that this bicycle would have been too flexible to ride very succesfully.
In a personal communication dated Dec 16, 2020, Sam Whitehouse related these observation on the "Titanium Cycle":
"I was not aware of this particular machine, but I have now looked at the Pathe news clip - it appears to be a one-off sports cycle with dropped handlebars; it is also single speed. The cross-bar is dropped beneath the saddle - this is a feature that I have not seen on any other Phillips machine, and I have copies of many contemporary advertisements. This dropped cross-bar would have the effect of reducing the saddle height - this, together with the very light weight (14lbs 3oz) leads me to suggest that this machine was intended for racing, or some record attempt, perhaps as a pacer (ie, following a vehicle)..."
Oddly, in the bicycle literature of the period, there is what might be called a 'conspiracy of silence' regarding the Phillips machine. This seems all the more strange considering the novelty of the bicycle.
Given the paucity of information available, I have dreamed up a number of wild theories regarding the Phillips machine. What if it was actually intended to be an ultralight motorcycle, but the project was abandoned before it could be completed? That would go part of the way towards explaining the unusual geometry. Or, what if there are no ride tests of the bicycle because it was built purely in order to deceive the Soviets by suggesting that British industry was using TITANIUM tubing for domestic transportation products rather than advanced military projects? Anecdotal evidence suggests that the US government did something along these lines leading up to the construction of the SR-71 Blackbird. All in all, we are likely never to have the answers we so justifiably crave :(
It stands to reason that there were other experiments with TITANIUM bicycles prior to the 1970s. Fritz Fleck, the maker of FLEMA bicycles, has suggested that the Porsche factory may have produced a TITANIUM frame, and I have extrapolated that, if this is so, it may have been made in the 1960s.