Dr Alexander Eric Moulton (1920-2012), engineer and designer of the Moulton cycle
1920 April 9th. Born Stratford upon Avon. He was the great grandson of Stephen Moulton, who began making vulcanised rubber in Britain in 1848
Educated at Marlborough College and Kings College, Cambridge, where he studied Mechanical Engineering.
WWII. Employed by the Bristol Aeroplane Co
He worked after World War II at George Spencer, Moulton and Co, specialising in rubber suspension systems for vehicles.
In the late 1950s, following the acquisition of the family firm by Avon Rubber Co, Moulton established a new enterprise, Moulton Developments.
1956 The family business was bought by the Avon Rubber Co, Moulton started up a new company, Moulton Developments, to design the suspension system for British Motor Corporation's new small car, the Mini, that was being designed by his Sir Alec Issigonis. The combination of conical rubber springs and small wheels was one of the many innovative developments that allowed Issigonis to achieve the Mini's small overall size. This was later refined into the hydrolastic and hydragas suspension systems used on later British Leyland cars such as the Austin Maxi, Austin Allegro and Rover Metro, and most recently on the MGF.
1958 Moulton started work on bicycles and later designed the Moulton Bicycle, again using rubber suspension and small wheels. Formed Moulton Bicycles
1968 Awarded the Royal Designer for Industry award
2012 December 9th. Died Bradford.