Daniel Rudge (1840- June 26, 1880) was a British engineer who built high-end bicycles and velocipedes.
Rudge invented the adjustable ball bearing bicycle hub (British Patent No 526) in 1878.
In the years before John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tire, Rudge addressed the rough ride by producing a four-bladed, spring-suspended fork in 1887.
The French racing cyclist Charles Terront, renowned for winning the first Paris-Brest-Paris event in 1891, used Rudge's axles with much success thereby bringing world attention to Rudge.
After Rudge's death, his company was merged with the Tangent and Coventry Tricycle Co to form D. Rudge and Co which in 1894 became Rudge-Whitworth.
Source: Graces Guide
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