Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-16
Mr.. A. G. Spalding's Views on the
Future Wheel
CHANGES In CONSTRUCTION
What the Big Manufacturers Have
Agreed On.
NEXT YEARS GUARANTEE

sition he is perhaps the best Informed man
in the country in bicycle manufacturing,
and what he says comes very near being
correct.
In this connection few words regard
ing the association of which he Is the
head will rot be amiss. The membership
is composed entirely of bicycle manufac-
turers, who have banded together for self
protection on similar though larger plan,
than the organization of the local dealers.
Mr.. Spalding was the leading spirit in the
organization of the national board of trade
of cycle manufacturers. The meetings of
the board not only regulates the business
of the firms composing it, but the outside
corporations are governed to considerable
extent by the deliberations of the body.
The Bicycle Guarantee.
AT the last meeting of the board the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted. which is of
interest to all wheelmen. The resolution
| reads: That the following form of guar
antee be recommended to the members of
the board of trade as the standard board
of trade guarantee: The manufacturer of
this bicycle guarantees to replace or repair
any defect in this bicycle, for period not
exceeding six months from date of sale to
original purchaser. provided that satisfac-
tory proof of such sale is given, and that
such defect is not the result of misuse or
neglect, and that the defective part be de-
lvered to such manufacturer for inspec-
tion. great many OF the members OF the
board of trade have expressed their will
insnesS 10 incorporate this guarantee in
their 1886 catalogues.
i'll other words. many of the wheels placed
on the market the coming season will only
be guaranteed for six months instead of a
year, as has heretofore been the case. This
is not apt to prove very popular move.
If the construction Of bicycle is COM
t1nI
manship. it should matter but little to the
| manufacturer whether the guarantee ran
for year for six months.
When asked by Star reporter about the
general designs of bicycles for next year,
Mr.. Spalding gave his views freely. IAN
of the makers of high-grade machines"
said ne. will use considerably larger tub
ing. The tubing in the lower rails and the
seat-post tube Will most probably be one
and one-eighth inches in diameter, while
the head tubing will be about one and one
quarter inches in diameter. The tubing In
the rear seats and forks will be about five
eighthS and three-quarter inches. There is
some danger however. in going into eX-
tremes in the matter The larger the tub
ing the heavier the weight of the bicycle,
and to lower the weight the thickness of
the tubing has to be reduced. If an extra
large liameter of tubing is used, the thick
| ness would have to be reduced consider
ably for the sake of liEhtness, and this Is
apt to be done to such an extent as to
make tie frame construction too weak.
The Weight of Machines.
IT hardly think that the weight of the
machines will be reduced much next year.
The light W heels of this season will not
be improved upon In this respect. the i'm
provement being directed in the general
used machine. Then again, the road ma
chimes, while the construction will be
lighter the advantage will be somewhat
offset by the use of heavier tires. The
racing machines will range between nine
teen and twenty pounds, while the road
wheels Will range from twenty-five to
twenty-siX pounds. The past season has
demonstrated that riders for road pur
poses prefer a larger pneumatic tire. which
appears to give general satisfaction, and
on this account heavier tires will be used
on the road wheels. Another thing, single
tube tires will be all the call next year,
this being noticeable preference of wheel
men,
Saddles.
the question of saddles IS being brought
up. and next season there is a likelihood
of a radical change The improvements in
the bicycle have apparently narrowed
| down. and attention is paid to the smallest
details. Saddles, which add to the pleas
ure of cycling by increased comfort. are
demanded. More attention will be paid to
the manufacture of BICYCLES for female
riders. as the demand in this direction IN
creased wonderfully during the year.
There is Il tendency to return to the use
of wider handle bars than are now fash
ionable. There is also an inclination
among some manufacturers to shorten the
wheel base in order to give greater rigid
ity to the machine. In the wheel Of Eext
year the closest attention is being paid to
the construction of the crank hanger,
| bearing parts, the joints of the frame, and
! the adjustment of saddles and handle bars.
Wheels md Spokes.
The diameter of the wheels will remain
about the same, but for the sake of
strength more spokes will be used. Many
| manufacturers, while using tangent spokes,
will not Irvine them together as hereto
fore, because in truing wheel an ordinary
repair man VIII neglect to unite the spokes
and the consequence is that only the up
per part of the spokes are frightened. max
ing an unequal strain. Barrel hubs will be
used on almost all Of the wheels next
year..
The Prices.
When asked # there was any probability
of reduction in the price of high-grade
| machines, Mr.. Spalding said:
''No. there is not the least likelihood of
this being done. For every 500 invested
in a high-grade wheel the purchaser gets
800 worth of bicycle. While there might
he some slight foundation, it is not fair to
compare the cost of a bicycle with a sew
ing machine or other like Inventions The
1dllDinty OF Sucn comparisons Is app2r-
ent when the slight amount of material
which the public will allow makers to
use in their machines is considered The
demand is for very light wheel to carry
a heavy weight, and to accomplish this
only the best material can be used in the
construction, with skilled workmanship.
In this direction enormous cNpend lures of
money has been made for expenditures of
and new devices for ach .ev ng satisfac-
tory results with less material, the pub
lie little realizing the amount of time
thought and money consumed in the
change of models from year to year Were
the same wheels made and sold year after
year the cost of the wheel would he re-
duCed.
at can be truthfully asserted that there
has never been an article of merchandise
manufactured which has given the pub
lie in return for its money greater bene-
fits than the bicycle. 1t cannot be denied
that the machine has founded the for
tunes of great number of manufacturers
and manufacturers without humber have
been attracted to the field, and like all
other branches of trade this is soon apt
to be overdone. The opinion of many man
ufacturerS is that the turning point in the
business will be reached next year. and
that it will be a survival of the tittest
no nF