The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-13
BIG CUT IN BICYCLES.
Wheels offered at Almost Any Price
in New York.

New York World
The failure OF two firms In the bicycle
trade were announced yesterday A fnird
was expected before business hours today.
The Munger Bicycle Company and the
Plymouth Bicycle Company were the two
that went under.
This started anew and with increased
vigor the reports OF cutting In prices on
strictly high grade wheels really meant 10
sell for 800 each. As a matter or fact. II
developed that about any 500 machine on
the market could be had at cuts OF from
$40 TO $40 II the buyer was persistent and
was Wiling TO go at ii in the proper way.
When interviewed some OF the dealers
came out boldly and told OF their cuts.
Others pooh-poohed u. though around the
corner their wheels were going at dis
count few denied any cut. but admit
ted that they'd throw In a g lamp, g cy-
clometer. 81 bell. 81 foot pump. chain and
lock. can of oil. foot brake and about any
other sundries desired.
But most important OF all. was the I'M
denied statement that the high-grade
wheels viii come down next season. One
firm alone was willing 10 so on record as
listing wheels for 1897 at 800 Its rivals
scofTed at this, and predicted come
down. The firm that has tried the hardest
of al to maintain the 500 standard this
season refused TO say that 500 would be
the figure next year.
There isn't wheel on the market ex-
cept our own" said the manager OF one of
the biggest manufacturing companies in
the country that doesn't cut. How do
they do Il? That's easy. One arm sells
wheel on instalments without demanding
the FIRST payment. Another takes your
500. gives a receipt, and then hands you
hack Sd. Then dry goods stores get the
wheels. unscrew the name plates and re-
tail them for S7s 20 Others ride wheel
~ a a.
II is secondhand. A wheel that has been
really supposed to stick az 800 has IS
worth OF sundr1es and an order for a SO
bicycle suit that goes along.
you can get some 500 wheels through
the little agents at discount though the
rnanufac tuners really hold them at 500 IN
the main store. When pressed for an ex-
planation, the manufacturers say that the
agent stocked UP early Ia the season and
there fs no way TO stop him
Mind. I'm not talking Of alleged 500
wheels that are 'eut' 20 SIS or SCI or any
odd price, but OF the resl high-grade
wheels. Some Of the wheels Of sterling
reputation have host cast this year because
the makers. knowing a cut was bound 20
come. sacrificed quality to cheapness. One
firm this year saved s2ne 600 alone by not
making the top bar Of the frame parallel
with the ground, "a has been done by other
makers. II would have required the MAX
ink OF entirely new angle joints for every
braEed point on the frame"
IL was the same story everywhere. One
firm noticed that Long Island agent was
buying In unusually large quantities The
reason was simple. The wheels were be-
ing shipped hack 20 New York 20 sell az a
discount
We couldn't hang him" explained the
makers
The failures wiil preclpitate more cuts
- - believed. These wheels largely over
produced. VIII be thrown on the market
for big discount for cash. One firm that
charges stiH price Tor It's wheel met this
yesterday by announcing that hereafter II
would sci wheels IN instruments. a thing
81 had always refused 10 do. The trade
took this as a big eorla-faowu
II cannot set any aEnre Tor next year.
said r, L. Coleman. president OF the Cycle
Board OF Trade. when asked yesterday.