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Local Triumph Connections (2)

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The pneumatic tyre was first invented by John Boyd Dunlop, a veterinary surgeon in Belfast. The invention was initially to reduce his sons discomfort in riding a bicycle (with solid tyres) over the cobbled streets of Belfast, but he soon realised the great potential of his idea. He later formed the Dunlop Rubber Company using his initial patent in 1888 and further patents over the following 10 years. The company is now known as 'Dunlop' or 'India' after an amalgamation between the two companies. Being a 'Dunlop' , but of no connection to the man himself, I still like to promote a tenuous link ! Left : An advertisement from local publication of September 1961.   Right : John Boyd Dunlop appears on Northern Bank £10 notes. Dunlop Cross-ply tyres were used in the development and pre-production trials of the Triumph Herald during the late 1950's when Triumph asked Dunlop Tyres to run trials of their tyres on the 'Zobo' prototype Herald VKV 75 in 1958.     Indeed, they were standard fitment on many cars prior to and after the Herald. For example, this Standard Triumph publication (left and below) from 1946 shows Dunlop as the official fitment on the cars.   However, economics also had an influence and the cars were fitted with tyres from the manufacturer who gave the best deal to Standard Triumph. Dunlop had a closer relationship than the other suppliers and would have been the biggest supplier. .

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