alt Hacker NewsHigh-quality (higher carbon) steel required for frame, chain and gears was not abundant enough and cheap enough until late XIX century.
High-quality (higher carbon) steel required for frame, chain and gears was not abundant enough and cheap enough until late XIX century.
Agreed, and also chain and fasteners specifically require the ability to mass produce very small, very strong, very consistent parts. This necessarily needs production lines with consistent tooling and quality assurance.