the 5 speed Tokheim bicycle transmission

non-conventional 5 speed bike transmission from Tokheim Corporation. 1974-1980 and sold by Huffy. Very durable, zero maintenance, very reliable. I put more than 10,000 miles on this one. I recently donated it to the Houston Bicycle Museum. It weighs about what a planetary 5 speed weighs. It is not designed for racing. The noncircular cogs are made up of 2-tooth segments. There is a bit of "flutter" in the feeling (the cogs are variously hexagonal, etc.) but it is not an unpleasant sensation. Today, this could be 3D printed at a very low weight and, perhaps, made into a greater number of gear ratios. In 1970 when the USA "discovered" the derailleur-equipped 10 speed, every mechanical engineer in the USA immediately (a) fell in love, and (b) said, "hey! I think I could make a multispeed bike transmission." This won a prize for "sintered metal" engineering.

[prowess]

Wow I just bought a Huffy The Friendly One at an Estate Auction for 2 Dollars !! Has The same 5 speed transmission. I bought the bike because no one at the auction bid on it. Thanks for the video !