Re: the Variomatic" transmission and similar systems, it appears that there seems to be a certain amount of industrial espionage that has gone on plus both sides of the Atlantic seem to have developed their own version, albeit at different times. I dont think we will ever know how it all came to being really but someone must have had the original idea at some point.
"Ideas and practical solutions are sometimes many miles apart...."
It seems fairly clear that the basic idea of the simultaneous opening\closing of the flanks of paired pulleys pre dates van doorne by some considerable time. He seems to be the one to have made it respond automatically to load and road speed in a very innovative way. As you say ian, we'll never really know who was first but Reeves is the earliest candidate I've managed to find.
