The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-08-01
The American Bicycle.

tion ago the first American made
wheel had not come into existence.
The bicycle, considered as distinct
from the old velocipede, came into use
in England in 1869, but did not make
it's advent in America until nine years
later. 1t is true single machine was
made in this country in 1877, for Col
onel Albert A. Pope, Of Boston, but it
was in 1873 that the industry was ac-
tually begun, the Pope Manufacturing
company having made 80 bicycles in
that year. They were modelled upon
one Of the best English machines, the
"Duplex Excelsior. Itwas not long
before the company devised new pat
terms of it's own, embodying various
original improvements. Colonel Pope
had full faith in the success of the BIZ
cycle in this country as practical and
| popular road machine, and it was soon
proved that his predictions were well
founded. The success of his company,
and the rapid development of gener-
al interest in cycling led others to en-
gage in the business.
Slightly previous to the first manu-
facture Of bicycles in this country
there was small Importation of Eng
lish machines, and the importing bus
mess gradually developed to large pro-
portions. The American manufactur-
ers, however, more than kept pace
with the foreign trade, when the years
1887 and 1858 ushered in new era in
bicycling, caused by the introduction
of the rearing driving safety.
In 1887 the Overman Wheel Co., o.
Boston, had brought out machine OF
this type, and others makers, who had
already been perfectine designs,
brought out safeties in the following
year. The result was not merely a
large supplanting of the former type,
now in distinction called the "ordina-
ry," but it brought bicycling into ia
vor with many people who had hither-
to been deferred from it, an advantage
very largely increased by the introduc.
tion of pneumatic tires couple Of
seasons later. A very important
phase of the new era was the develop
ment Of bicycling for women, who had
been before this limited to the compar-
atively heavy tricycle., and thus placed
at a disadvantage. Practically the
leading manufacturers now produce
| special patterns for ladies use, and it
is safe to say that the present number
of riders of this sex is larger than the
| total number Of wheelmen in the coun-
| try ten years ago. That.there is pc
culiar fascination about bicycle no
one who watches the silent swiftness
| can doubt, and contrary to the general
| impression, the average woman learns
| to ride very easily and quickly. and
| when she once becomes mistress of the
situation, and gets her machine under
full control, she is apt to become more
enthusiastic over its possibilities than
her wheeling brother.
As the popularity Of the wheel
increased, many new makes were plac-
ed on the market, the resulting com.
petition bringing improvement OF all
kinds to the fore in numberless varie.
ty. The simple yet strong diamond
frame came first, followed by improve
ments in construction from time to
time as the manufacturers learned
where the greatest strains should be
provided for, and where the weight
could be reduced without danger. The
clumsy looking pneumatic tires have
done much, with their cushioned ease,
to lessen the sudden strains that the
old style wheels were subject to, max
ing possible the gradual reductions in
| weight which have evolved the strong,
swift wheels Of to-day, weighing from
| % to IS pounds, and the featherweight
track racers on which the records are
made.
The many makers, all working to
make and keep reputation, have put
their best brains and most sl;illful
work into the modern bicycle, and
many kinds of wheels can rightly
claim to be the best that can be made.
Prominent among these are the Mon
archs, Columbias, Victors, Ramblers,
Irnperials, Waverleys, and Walpoles,
and such English makes as the Ra-
leigh and Humber. All frst-class
igh-grade wheels are safe invest
ment Of the money they cost. Ger
tainly safe, for what other investment
yields health as well us pleasuret
None but the wheelman or wheelwo-
man knows the peculiar sense of ex-
hilirating freedom that a light, strong
wheel supported by air, can give
Literally the wheelman of to-day rides
"on the wings of the wind"
The bicycle, as now used by both
men and women, has become an essen
| tial factor in the life Of the people,
hagdly less in it's practical value than
the common carriage. In nearly every
city and town of the United States,
excepting a few particularly unfavored
localities, it has come into use for bus
mess, health and pleasure. To esti,
mate the number of bicycles now used
in this country would be difficult
matter, but the number would be
among the hundreds Of thousands,
representing purchasing price OF tens
of millions of dollars.
The benefits of this popular use OF
the wheel do not accrue to the manu-
facturers and riders alone. 1t has been
left to wheelmen to arouse the public
to the true conditions Of our highways,
and forcibly call attention to the evils
of our road systems. AS result there
has been inaugurated a widespread
movement for better roads, and the bi:
cyclists, especially the League OF
American Wheelmen, are to be thank
ed for various efficient legislative bills
prepared and pushed with this object.
Il is hard to say where the improve.
ments in bicycle manufacture will
stop, and it is equally hard to say
what is left that can be improved on,
for it really seems as if the light
wheels of the present day, with their
diamond frames, dust-proof ball-bear.
ings and pneumatic tires, were the per,
fection Of strength and ease. The
slight care required by bicycle, cou,
pied with its ability to easily outstrir
horse on the road for either long OF
| ort J;,+o,ooe noLae ~ narhane the