The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-17
WHEELS AND WHEELS
Bicycle Agents Have Visited the City
in Large Numbers.
EXHIBITING THEIR WARES
The Crank VIII Find a Grand and
Extensive Assortment to Pick
From Next Summer
Bike Gossip.

salesman who is a very busy fellow at
this time of the year. fitting from city
to city. taking orders from local agents
for thier stock of machines to be sold
when summer comes again. The sales
man does not travel In the saddle. or
pump his way on the pedals, but he
has q coy corner on the shady side of
the Pullman car and his sample wheel
rides in the baggage car. He is a ge-
MUS, this man Of the wheel, and
though he has wheels In his head,
wheels in his business, and wheels in
all his talk, they all run light and easy,
are noiseless, ball-bearing, dust-proof,
no. chance for play or friction, and
never tired, when 1t comes to showing
just how, why and where his particu-
lar machine is better than any other
wheel made.
their statesmen as possible in attend
ance at the cycle shows which have
been held in New York, Chicago, San
Francisco and Denver recently, but
now they are scattering over the cities
whose agents could not spare the time
or money in going to those centers of
trade.
The bicycle salesman is a late pro-
duct Of this, one of the latest indus
tries of the world. He has an impress
sive manner and when a dealer gets in
his clutches there is no escape for the
luckless wight who has to listen while
he hears of the virtues possessed by
the special wheel whose representative
has captured him. From hub, spoke,
rim and tire, to chain sprocket wheel,
pedal frame, saddle and handle bars,
with variations sung on the cups,
cones, steering forks and mud guards,
the story is told with always the same
conclusion that "our wheel is "abso-
lutely the highest grade wheel in the
world. the best bicycle built" and so on
until he places an agency in the town.
Anaconda has been visited by half a
dozen OF the advance guard of this
army.
This is a wheeling city and those
traders are awake to the fact No BIZ
cycle craze captured the city but the
townspeople took to the wheel as
matter of fact and a matter of BUSH
ness rather than of pleasure. Until the
last fall of snow riders might be seen
every day on the streets As soon as
the roads are broke the wheelmen will
probably appear again. Those who ride
now, however, are those who are rid
ing in pursuit of business rather than
pleasure. A number of workmen en-
ployed at the Carroll smelters, and at
the futile foundry ride to and from
thCh WOIh OH DihtS, an enthusiastic
doctor continues to visit his patients on
the steed that almost flies in spite of
the oft-tendered advice to put Ii on
runners, and he says that It is much
more satisfactory than to bother with
a horse In making the round of calls.
Still there are many more who have
discarded their bikes for the winter,
and to them the advice given in Wheel
Talk Is pertinent and valuable in tell
ing how to care for a wheel
1T is too often the case that the
wheel is stored away just as 1t came
In from the last run. The owner must
not be surprised to find 1t looking rath-
or seedy in the spring. Cold and damp
ness reinforced by dirt rapidly attack
every little exposed surface until rust
spots are soon developed and the nick |
eled surfaces present much the appear
ance of a case of the measles. This is |
easily avoided. Thoroughly clean the |
wheel; do not let a spot escape. Take |
a woollen cloth thoroughly saturated
with veseline, and go over the bright |
parts. Be particular about it, as this |
treatment renders a bicycle dust proof. |
THE chain should receive the most |
careful attention. The joints are much |
exposed TO moisture which, If not dis |
lodged, Will rust lthe r1vets and the /,
bearings, making very stiff, hard rum |
ming chain. Clean the chain well and |
dmmerse On sperm oil or vaseline. After |
such treatment its easy running will |
be delightful. The tires require a lit
tile attention. Initiate them to a fair rid |
ing pressure and, If possible, hang the |
wheel up so they will not bear on any,
thing. If the wheel must stand on the |
tires, turn them occasionally; a tire |
a long time on one spot in the |
cold weather has a tendency ITO take a |
permanent set and ITO develop cracks"
AS a branch of the wheel Industry
there flourished last year an Insurance /
company which for a specified sum pro-
tected wheel owners from bicycle |
thieves and. whenever possible, pun
ished the thieves and traced down the
missing wheel. If THE wheel could not |
be recovered, the holder of the policy
was given a new wheel. making good |
his loss. This year there comes along a
new company, with the bicycaists COM
bmatjon accident and liability policy
This concern does not insure immunity
from accidents, but from the results of
accidents, paying a rider for not only
his own injuries, fatal or otherwise, but
also covers his liability 10 amy other
person or persons when lhe is in fault
tor amy accident ito them" This is the
latest enterprise for which wheels are
and is an innovation in in
surance circles.
The American wheelman is getting
put a mammoth trade review and New
Year edition, to be issued some time
this month.
W. b. Herman, representing the Vic
tor wheel. is looking after the interests
IF the OvernTan company On Montana.
W. w. Talbot. the Butte Hfheelman.
visited the Anaconda trade recently.
II Is estimated that thera ara 7oo
sales and repair shops In Chi
ago.
II Is estimated that there are 73e
of bicycles. both great
md small. in this country.
Marion Cochran of Toll Gate. Nd. is
stated 20 have invented a bicycle which
While descending a hill winds up a
IpT'fng that pg1opels the machine while