The Bowden cable

Researching the subject for this feature it became apparent there is not a simple answer to: 'Who invented the Bowden cable?' as it has been attributed to two people called Bowden at different points.

In fact, there is so much confusion on the subject, a fairly decent case could be made for either you or I having invented it, possibly before we were born.

The smart money is on a lad called Ernest Monnington Bowden, who filed a patent in 1896, but, typically, his new invention was little understood, misused and received not very nice reports by those who didn't understand it.

Old Ernest granted a licence in 1900 to Frank Bowden who owned the Raleigh Bicycle Company in Nottingham and was no relation to Ernest - from there onwards the control cable rapidly replaced the steel rod for brake control.