The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-20
TIME TO BUY WHEELS.
Probabilities You'll Not Get Them
Cheaper Next Year.
Detroit Tribune.


Said man well posted on the bicycle
trade yesterday: 1T was thought at the
beginning of the year that the largely in
creased demand for bicycles coupled with
the cheaper price of medium grades would
tend to prevent overproduction, and leave
dealers chance to make fair profit
But the very fact that 1t was seen there
would be an immense demand, led every
enc who could scrape a few dollars to-
Now there is one peculiar feature of the
bicycle business that is different from a
good many others. The largest demand for
wheels is in the spring of the year. Again,
in the fall there is demand. but not SO
heavy as in the spring. 1t is more a steady.
regular trade A large number Of
these manufacturers reached the limit
of their capital even before the end of
the spring season. AS their wheels had
knew nothing of the merits of them, they
sold slow, and when their manufacturers
reached the limit of their capital they
market at any price to get money.
THAT is the secret of the fall of prices
on bicycles-all over the country. AT no
time was the real demand supplied. There
has not been an auction sale of wheels
here in Detroit this season, but as many
people came at the last as at first-all
ready to buy. Want of proper capital and
proper advertising is what precipitated the
THE bicycle business of all business
needs capital to swing it over the dull sea-
sen, and it needs good and eff
popular demand: 1t was the lack
of these things that forced weak firms
to succumb. This in turn so brought prices
down that there are to-day just about one
half as many firms manufacturing as be-
fore the crash And many firms who would
ordinarily have weathered the duh season
We're dragged down. Now all this can have
only one result. AS the present
stock resulting from the numerous fail
ureS is worked off-and conservative deal
ers say that time has come-bcyce prices
are bound to go up.
1T has been so conclusively proven that
it is utterly foolish to go into bicycle manu-
featuring without ample capital that the
lesson of 96 will deter any more ventures
along that line In fact it would not be
surprising for dealers to refuse to sell
wheels of next seasons make except on
special order. That is the talk now among
manufacturers. There is a tendency also
to form a bicycle trust-at least there is
that rumor among the dealers. What there
is to it is too early to say.
But one thing is assured. Bicycle buy
ers, If they want cheap prices, ought to
buy at once. Wheels will be higher next
season than they have averaged this. Some
of the dealers think the 500 wheel will still
be in line. Others think the high grade
will go for $S5. Those who are handling
high grades say for a. certainty that the
price next season will still be 500.
Another method of dealers who can
command large capital is to sell wheels on
small weekly payments. The Clipper peo-
pie are Offering to sell their wheels on Is
cents a day. payments This effectually
drives out of business the people who lack
capital, and it will tend in the end to keep
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