Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-18
The Inventor of Bicycles.
Death of James Star1ey. with Som
 Points in His Life.
 From the Pall Mall Gazette.1

Death of James StarIey. with Som
 Points in His Life.
 From the Pall Mall Gazette.]
 A very remarkable career has just closed Mir. James Starley, the inventor of the modern bicycle and tricycle., has this week been laid in his last resting place in the Gov entry cemetery. His career, which has been cut short at a comparativel yearly age, was striking illustration of the strength with which inborn talents assert themselves Born about fifty years ago in the village of Adjourn, Sussex, the son of poor farmer, he received but little education, and at the age of was put to agricultural labor. In 1846 or 1S47, while still lad, he left home to seek his fortune in London, and, after some changes and vioissitudes, he finally settled in Lewisham, Kent where he mar ried The collapse of the Coventry ribbon trade in 1860, and the social distress by which it was accompanied, led to the introduction of new industries into the city.
 Among the earliest of these was the Gov entry Machinists' company, of which Mir. Starley was appointed foreman. His active mind was ever bent on inventions and lm- movements on inventions, and during this period he produced many varieties of sew ing machines, some or wmcn are In the market under names which he himself could moi have recognized. Twelve years ago he beoan A study which was to prove turning noint in his life, and which constitutes his chief title to remembrance A French bicycle was brought under the notice of the Coventry Machinists' company, who took up the manufacture of it for Paris firm The t.bone- shaker" is machine which the rider of to- day would more than disdain it bears the same relations to the modern bicycle as cart horse does to the winner of the Derby. But the rude contrivance contained an idea which fell upon fruitful soil. MT. Starley first improved it, and then he improved it out of existence, by inventing machine of an entirely novel construction.
 He first gave to the world the s'spider- wheel which has wrought complete revo- lution in the wheel world, and which marks the commencement of the present era of cycles. The first of the new style of machines was 'the spring and step ma- chimes, or the Coventry model" The superiority of this machine was self-evident, the old coach-li like wooden wheels being superseded by wire spokes and shaped rim and india-rubber tires, Q curving spring, and a small hind wheel near to the driving wheel. The Ariel, a light and graceful ma chine that fully justified it's name, afterward followed, and embodied the important im- provement of pivot-center steering. MT. Starley s next triumphs were the Europa sew ing machine and the Tangent bicycle, by which greater strength was obtainde in the wheel.
 Regarding the bicycle as particularly per fected, he now began the study of the tri- cycle, the machines of this name hitherto in use not being particularly remarkable for lightness or beauty. The Coventry tricycle. was the first fruit of this application; in due time the Salvo quadricycle, and Mir. Starley regarded this as his naGg7eat,n opus. MT. Starley patented number of his inventions but he had little commercial keenness, and, speaking broadly, his inventive genius was freely given to the world. He has left behind hin no fortune. though latterly he was feel ing his way to competency.