The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-23

In their presence at the National Cycl
Show. in vast numbers, the people OF Ne,
York have very practically put the stamp G
/ approval on the exhibition, during the re,
days that it has been in progress.
There are all kinds or bicycles and bicyc
| appliances. The catalogue shows nearl
400 exhibits or various kinds, and all tn
available floor space of the great Madiso
| Square Garden is covered. 1t was roun,
necessary to utilize the galleries for exhi
biuon purposes, and Two pronenades hay
been temporarily constructed above ground
| each lined on one side with exhibits. Tn
| management originally CONTEMPLATED hay
| ing ring in the center OF the hall for eX ibi
! tons or riding, but It was found necessa r,
TO abandon this idea because OF the grea
demand for exhibition space.
The scene is one or the HveIiest activity
AT nearly every booth there is some elec
tric feature or other novelty to attract tn,
attention or the passerby.
Immediately upon demonstrating the
least interest he Is showered with pam
phlets, catalogues and souvenirs. If h,
is bicycle celebrity lie Is frequently IA voret
with valuablesaniples. Al some OF thesta
women, attired in bioomer suits, are EN-
ployed giving away souvenirs. These
stands are popular stopping points, aud ar,
objects or lively interest, a. ire the bicycle.
equipped Tor army use. The recent activity
IN the various regiments regarding bicycle
equipment has created the demand for bi
cycles fitted for reginiental purposes.
me new army tandem. mounted with
iorty-pouDd automatic rapid firing ma
chine gun, Is ON exhibition Ter the first
time. These machines nave been equip
PED IN the most thoroughly complete AID
convenient manner, and yet without car
rying an extra ounce or interfering in anv
possible way with the rider or rders
The tandem Is finished in the regula
ton manner, with enameled frame. nickel
plated handle bars, hubs, and sprockets,
although IL presents quite a different and
perhaps even more attractive appearance
on account OF The accoutremcnts of war
which are attached 10 it, and seem to add
a more stanch and perfect appearance to
the machine.
ON either side of the steering head, and
ciamped or attached with perfect security.
are steel eDdmelcd gun rests, which are
lined with lcather-and made exactly to fit
the barrels or the guns, aud attached to
the main upright in the same way are
rests OF the same kind, with the exception
OF being made trifle arger in oIder 10
hold the gun grip. Fitting most securely
I'D these rests, and yet i'll such a manner
'hat they may be easily and quickly de-
tacned at moments notice, are two
twelve-shot repeating magaz zine carbincs.
strapped on the right side OF the ma
chine, and to the front and rear seat
post, are two regulation six-shooters en-
cased IN holsters. Also on the right side
extending almost the whole length of the
machine, attached in front to the steering
mead and i'll the rear to the lower center
tube Is jointed flagstaff in a tight
fitting, ncat-loOking canvas case. in no
way hindering the action OF the machine or
RIDERS. On the front handie-bar and strap
PED III a peculiar manner. SO that there is
no possibility OF their coming loose Or caus-
ing any annoyance are two tightly.rolleI
blue regulation army coats.
on the rear bars. strapped in the same
are double pair of gray army
blankets. The guns. revoIvers. and all are
so ing.niousiy attached that nothing can
interfere III the slightest degree with the
riders. and the additional weight OF the va.
rious accoutrcments, which take in every
thing essential for a march in times Of war
anu peace is hardly perceptible
Abother Wheel Is perhaps more remark
able thdn the tandem, on account OF hav-
ing attached and ready for action a TO-
pound gun. Running pcrpcndicularly from
me fork crown 10 the height of the handle
bars is Il regulation sized piece of Steel
ne top or the scoring head run two half
circular pieces OF steel, ma king Il V-shape
raine, which adds, rather than detracts,
o The attractiyeDess and stability of the
on the top of this frame is a turntabIe
Ind bracket, on which the gun rests Sc
;urely fastened. 1t is balanced to be
'asiiy turned in any direction. and can
De turned 10 fire at any angle, without ex-
ending h.t..l 20.
my trouble in riding or steering: in fact,
he gun Is so we'll placed that 1t can be
ired with the greatest possible ease, wheth-
II the rider is going fast or slow, and no
natter how bad the roads are.
The gun, Which was recently adopted by |
ne United States navy, is of enc barrel, |
Ittached to a breech casing, in which the |
nechanism for charging, firing and ejecting |
5 contained. 1t is automatically fed by |
means of cartridge belts which are coiled |
oxes readily alta ched to the breech casing, |
nd as these boxes move with the latter, |
he supply OF cartridges is not disturbed by |
he vertical or horizontal movement OF the |
un.
The boxes contain ESQ cartridges each.
nd are so constructed that they can be
ulckly attached or removed. In a recent |
st Tor accuracy at 200 yards. 100 consecu-
We hits were made in 16 seconds. which
the rapid action of the gun.
he weight OF forty pounds does not cause
lie bicycle to steer hard nor does it inter-
re with the balance or comfort of the
der.
There are two sextuplet wheels which
tract general admiration-the Fowler
achine and the Stearns. They are some
hat different in construction. and fea-
Tres ofeach are herewith reproduced. The
will be interesting to wheel
en. The specified tons of the Fowler
.xtuplet are as follows:
Length over all. 1856 inches: wheel base.
20 inches; weight, 1877 1-2 pounds: diane
r OF wheels. 80 inches; diameter of tires,
LIZ inches. the largest ever made; thick
PISS OF tire, 3-4 inch, and the gear is 1913
There are four driving sprockets of 20,
3. IA and teeth each; ten ten-tooth
rockets, seven chains and six truss frames, /
which the Fowler bicycle is the Original
Each revolution Of the pedals carries the |
achine forty-two feet, and the most COM
tent racing men who have examined the
Xtuplet say that one mile minute viii |
easily accomplished omit.
The rear sprocket of the Stearns wheel
easures one foot in diameter The big
achine is geared to 100 inches, and has
heel base of twelve and a half feet. 1t
constructed Of specially drawn tubing,
I'd every ounce of steel outside of the ubng
ed on the sextuplet is cut out of slid
eel block. The wheel cost So 800 To build.
One exhibition suggests the downfall Of
e baby carriage. Itmay not be an Out-of-
way park scene OF the near future tosee
nurse in boomers wheeling her charges
er the drives. The vehicle has been de-
med, and Is on exhibition at the show.
4 that is wanted is some one daring enough
make the innovation.
A bit OF cycling mechanism which at
li.tel the serious int rest of Mheeiman il [