The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-08-01
National League Standing.
BICYCLES HISTORY.
s Eightieth Birthday Occurs Th


Eighty years ago this fall the people of
Rochelle, France, were astonished by the
sight of a man hurrying through the
street on curious machine, the like of
which had not been seen before. 1t con-
sisted of two wheels of equal size con-
nected by bar, upon which was sort
of seat saddle. 1t was propelled by the
rider striking his feet against the ground
and pushing it along. The machine was
nine days wonder, and was looked up
on more as the work of visionary than
as being of any pract ical benefit A con-
siderable speed was attained by this new
machine. The people began making SIM
liar ones, using them as pnstirne and
not putting them to any practical pur-
pose.
This was the year 1916, year whose an
niyersary should be as gratefully cele-
DRAFTED by the cycling world as is the an
niversary of the discovery of America by
the nation. This wheel, the progenitor
of the multitudinous race of bicycles, and
it's humble architect have long fallen into
oblivion, but their work survives them.
The 'cheval roulant, as it was called,
UeCdIne populdr IL was lHtrOuuceu III
England, where it was known as the
"dandy horss.'' For nearly twenty years
both English and French wheelmen
pushed themselves along with their feet.
1t remained Tor the proverbiat inventive
genius of the Yankee to make the appli-
cation of the wrench axle to the bicycle,
and thus make it something beside a
wrench axle was patented in 1862 by p.
W. Mackenzie. Previous to this time
various forms of velocipedes and bicycles
were built, and little attention was paid
to the bicycle. In 1866 a bicycle was
atented by the government 1t was
wheels and required strong athlete to
operate it. The machine was valueless.
but gave promise of what might be ac-
complished. The development through
the next few years was slow, and instead
of following the original form of machine
with wheels of equal size. the ordinary
was the next step. The sudden popularity
of the velocipede at this time caused an
increased interest in the bicycle. The
English took up the work and made con-
siderable progress and sent several
wheels to America. The velocipede soon
lost its favor and ultimately gave way to
the bicycle
was seen in the first approved bicycle ex-
hibited at the Centennial Exhibition in
1876. This was the turning point in the
growth of the bicycle, and from this time
improvements and new design were nu
merous.- The first effort was to make the
wheel less cumbersome and more man.
ageable. Lighter frames were introduced
and steel spokes were used In 1878 the
first factory for the manufacture Of bicy
cles was started. At that time there were
in use twenty-five wheels In 1850
machine was patented which was a re-
markable continuance. The rider was
placed directly above the large wheel,
and from the small front wheel long
curved handle extended up to the level Of
the seat. The pedals were operated by
the lever movement, and at each stroke
the rider was doubled up like jacknife
In 1882 the first tandem was patented
The rear seat was arranged for woman
and was made like side saddle. Two
years later another arrangement known
as the sociable" was patented Here
supplementary wheel and saddle were at
tached to the side of a wheel and the
rider with his companion at his side
could ride along in manner which the
name indicates. The late arrangement Of
the safeties connected by steel rods so
tho same purpose. In 1884 two more
wheels We're patented, both of the ordi
nary type, one with the small wheel be-
hind, the other with it in front At that
time there were eight factories in opera
ton and 80, 600 wheels in use. There
were 6, 900 wheels made and sold that
year. Bicycles took boom, and the tall
ordinaries penetrated to all pointssof the
country. Gradually the safety gained in
popularity. 1t was found to DO more
speedy and more convenient.
Since the initial boom in 1884 bicycles
have become more popular with each
year, and at the rate at which they are
obtaining popular favor it would be
difficult to say what the end will be. An
old man in one of the parks the other
day declared when he saw father giving
his little child ride, securely fastened to
the handle bar he should expect to see a
family bicycle, and now comes the report
from Toledo, Ohio, of man who goes
out riding and takes his family of four
children along with him, all riding on
one wheel, to verify this prophecy. 1t
cannot be estimated with any degree of
exactitude how many wheels are now in
use, as the daily sale of them is large and
the output of the factories scarcely
equals the demand.
During the last seventeen years i'm
provements and new designs have fol-
lowed fast, and the fact that in 1878 only
twenty five wheels were in use in the
United States is the most striking cir
cumstance in the history of the develop
ment of the bicycle.