The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
tanding in readiness at all times to make

standing in readiness at all times to make
a particular delivery that is necessary to be
made at once, while a boy, who may be
doing other work at the time, may be
called upon to moun1 the carrier and take
out package. They have evidently come TO
stay.
"A complete innovation in tandem building
was seen here last week. 1t is the inven-
ton of William Schleur, of Terre Haute.
and VIII be manufactured by the Nash
Bicycle Company, which is soon to move
from Dixon, ILL.,, to Terre Haute. ~. K.
Elliott, late general superintendent of the
Vandalia, will be manager of the new
plant The tandem is SO constructed that
the frame can be taken apart, bringing the
wheels closer together and making an ordi-
nary diamond frame machine of it. 1t Will
be made in two styles-for man and wom-
an and for two men. The entire central
part of the frame including the front sad
die and the rear handle bar, can be taken
out in few moments. The frame is then
brought together and fastened, the fasten-
ing being one of the things covered by the
patents, ana II then becomes the ordinary
diamond frame wheel. This removes the
necessity OF a man owning two wheels If
he enjoys tandem riding. He may purchase
the single machine and ride ii IN either
form, according to the circumstances.
Tandem riding promises to increase in
popularity this year. The added interest
in riding the two-seaters comes from the
fact that riders may enjoy each others
company this way, but can scarcely do so
when riding singly. Then, again. a lady
who is nervous and becomes easily fright
ened at possible danger. thus losing control
of her wheel, is perfectly safe with a man
on a tandem. The exertion for each rider
is much less. as is shown in the fact that
the more riders on a machine the faster it
can go. Again. there is the pleasure Of a
country ride. which is denied to many of
the women for the reason that they are not
abe to ride for any length of time and are
unable TO pull uD the hills encountered.
With man behind. the woman can slack
up on her work when she gets tired and
does not need to exert herself so much in
pulling up hill. This feature however, will
not commend Itself greatly to the riders of
the other SEX The growing tendency to
use tandems has been recognized by man.
ufacturers. and now almost all of them are
building the machines. All the local stores
have them, and are taking more interest
in pushing their sale than ever before. Last
year the dealers here did not expect to
sell many, If any, having them merely TO
rent, While this year the tandem is a stock
machine.
The following from the Philadelphia In
quirer explains what is termed the factor OF
safety" in bicycle, but it seems probable
that the rate for wheel is placed at least
% too low:
THE manufacturer of the modern bicycle
presents one of the most complex and deli
cate problems known IN mechanical engineer
ing; a problem more difficult OF solution than
the construction of bridge. a locomotive or
a twenty-story building. The reason is that
what scientists call factor OF safety is lower
in the bicycle than almost any other me-
chanical product In high pressure guns, for
instance, the factor Of safety Is even as great
as twenty. which means that the guns are
made twenty times as strong as is theoreti-
cally necessary for the strain they must
bear In ordinary guns the factor OF safety
is twelve, in boilers 1t Is about six, in bridges
usually i've, and in Almost every construc-
ton OF machines Ii Is at least four. These
wide margins OF extra strength are considered
necessary as an offset to errors in theoretical
computations. or defect in construction and
material With the lightness OF construction
In bicycles. this Is reduced to a very small
margin. being as low In some instances as
LIS. This being So one can readily under
stAnd why the makers of high-grade ma
chimes maintain such a rigid system or in
spection-"