Alex Moulton RIP

[618AOG]

Just heard, aged 92. Nice old Boy and very interesting.

That is probably the last of the Mini design team now?

[UHR850]

Alex, thanks for the ride.

[bill773mini]

Sad loss.

John Sheppard is still going at 90.

[Pete]

92, what a great innings. I rode his bikes as a kid and and have been riding around with his supsension ever since !

[mab01uk]

AROnline Obituary: Dr Alex Moulton (1920-2012)
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/news/dr ... 1920-2012/

Motoring File:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/12/10/ ... ies-at-92/

I had a 'Mini' Moulton bicycle when I was a kid in the 1960's, they are now quite sought after on ebay for restoration and the Japanese love buying the old Moulton bikes too so the prices are rising for original 1960's examples.

"Minis are first-class Moultons, made to a good standard and they deserve to be cherished. They are smaller but fully formed. If you dismantle a Mini you will find that the bike is a perfect reproduction of the full-size F frame Moulton. All parts are identical in the front suspension but in 7/8ths scale. The rear forks do not have the curved rubber “sandwich”, but a simpler “clapperbox” suspension which was also used on the top-of-the-range Moulton Speed ‘S’ models. And of course Minis have the distinctive 14 inch wheels rather than the 16 inch on the full sized model."
http://www.moultonbuzz.com/models/mini/

History of the Moulton Bicycle:
http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/heritage.html

[graham in aus]

Shame to hear of another Mini legend lost, good innings though!

I wonder if his secret of bonding rubber to steel in the Hydro units has now gone forever?

Hope I last that long!

Commiserations to his sfamily and friends and RIP Alex.....

[mk1]

Times roll on, but his legacy will bounce along for ever.

Good bye Mr Moulton.

[coop12g295]

Another of our motor industry icons lost RIP Dr Moulton.
(my next project is a mini moulton,fitting tribute)

[Bodge]

I wonder if his secret of bonding rubber to steel in the Hydro units has now gone forever?

The process of bonding rubber to steel is indeed complicated but is also utilised on the standard rubber suspension cone.

The process has not been lost and brand new rubber cones are still being made here in the UK by M Parts using the original moulds and bonding process. Roger

[mab01uk]

Interesting lecture from 2009 on youtube:
Dr Alex Moulton - Bugatti Design Lecture
(Coventry University)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9GEDnDVpag

FF to 23 mins for Hydrolastic, etc
FF to 35 mins for the Mini...... and more

Quote:-
"Apologies about the sound, but we simply had to show you this lecture given by Dr Alex Moulton.
Dr. Moulton's professional life has been devoted to the research and development of innovative designs.
He developed The Moulton Bicycle, introduced in 1962, and pioneered small-wheeled, full-suspension thinking which was acknowledged as the most radical change in bicycle design for over 60 years. Over 150,000 were made and they still hold world and national speed records, testimony to their fundamentally advanced design.
He is also responsible for car suspensions from the rubber cone spring on the BMC Mini, to the Hydrolastic Austin 1100 and its successor, the Allegro (in collaboration with Sir Alec Issigonis) and the Hydragas on the Austin Metro, Rover 100 and MGF.
Between them, these systems have been fitted to some 8 million cars.
This lecture covers how his innovations in engineering have gained him a Queens Award, the CBE, 3 honorary doctorates, and have made him an icon for budding engineers."

[AustinSuperSeven]

Shame he didn't design a condom.... would have been the best ride ever
God bless you sir!

[mab01uk]

The funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon at 12 noon on Wednesday 19th December.

[JC T ONE]

Another genius lost in time

but what a life he had

when he arrives at the "Pearly Gate" the only remark he can be met with is "well done sir"


I wil send him a nice thought, next time I drive a Mini.

[solomorris]

From Uruguay rest in peace
Alex Moulton