The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-27
Looks LIKE A CYCLE Trust.

les. and both are experienced men and
good. heady players.
LOOKS LIKE A CYCLE TRUST.
Big Manufacturers Combine tn Shut
Out Cheap Machines.
PITTSBURG, Sept 26--The low
priced bicycle has gone. 1t will not
be manufactured any more, unless I'M
der extraordinary circumstances that
are not likely to arise for its benefit.
The manufacturers of standard
wheels have taken energetic action to
exterminate the cheap machine and
adept a syetem which will be effective
in keeping the low-priced bicycle from
becoming competitor again.
The Pope Manufacturing company,
the Gormully & Jeffrey company, and
other leading makers of high-class bicy-
cles have been at work for some time
trying to devise a scheme by which
the influence of cheap bicycles could
be checked. They were assisted by
other manufactures, and the movement
eliminated during the week at meet
ing held in the Hotel Waldorf, New
York
What was supposed to be a meeting
of wrought iron pipe manufacturers was
really a meeting of the manufacturers
Of bicycle tubing. There were repre-
SGItdCiHcS present ITCm StCn OF the
twelve firms manufacturing that class
of tubing, and a compact was entered
into which will drive out the cheap
wheels.
The bicycle manufacturers and tube
manufacturers hold a common griev-
ance against the makers of the low
priced wheels. The cheapening of
bicycles as complete machine also had
cheapening effect upon the price Of
tubing, so that while the manufac-
ttrers sold much more tubing from the
combined demand for material, the re-
suits were less satisfactory from a
business standpoint than without the
numerous shops where the cheap ma
chimes were made.
The manufacturers call their competi-
tors "assembiers. BY that they mean
the producers of the 1ow-priced wheels
assemble the various parts and with
out actually investing any capital turn
out wheel that has driven the stand
ard machines to the wall in the fierce
competition during the season just
closed.
To make a handsome profit on bicy-
cles it was only necessary for a man
to equip small shop somewhere with
a drill press, lathe and some other
simple apparatus which In the hands
OF skillet workmen would be sufficient
to perform the work. The tubing would
wheels and chains, handle bars, rims,
tires, spokes and other parts at differ
emit places, and then be Joined into
finished wheel. The bicycles in most
cases were good, solid machines and
stood the test against the grade wheels
A serious consideration was that the
buyer might not be able to secure
duplicate for a broken or damaged
part, because the particular firm" that
made his machine would be out of the
business. Some of the spectators only
calculated upon making and dispOsing
of certain number Of bicycles, and
when that was done they retired on
the profits made.
The effect of such traffic was to bur-
den buyers with wheels that became
white elephants, because the damaged
parts could not readily be duplicated
and because the assembling" was not
performed with the care that is al
ways taken by the standard manu-
facturers. The buyers Of such wheels
have been compelled to make contin-
ua1 repairs or throw their mounts
away, and many cid that to escape
the perpetual annoyances incidental to
breakdOwns.
The object Of those attending the
New York meeting was to drive out
such manufacturers and to protect the
large capital invested in complete BIZ
cycle IdCIOFlOS ana CuD6 mills. w TN
out the tubing it will be impossible for
the "assembIers'' to make any more
wheels, and the manufacturers entered
into a compact which practically
makes the business a trust. @
Each of the twelve firms making
| bicycle tubing bound itself not to sell
tubing to any except the regular BIZ
of other parts gave pledge not to
/ sell them the parts made by the sub
| scribers to the compact.
Every part Of the standard wheels
| is under patent and the combination
| has secured number Of special part
patents and entered them into the
| compact, which completely shuts out
the cheap "assemblers.' The manu-
facturer Of bicycle tubing is thor
| oughly protected by patents and the
"assemblers" will not be able to Sc
| cure the most essential material for
their product.
The tube makers were opposed to the
''assemblers" because the work of per-
fecting tubing has taken years and
cost large sums Of money for expert
ments. The processes have steadily
| lightened the weight of bicycle frames,
until the weight is almost SO per cent
| lighter than a few years ago. The
| tensil and lateral strength has been
| raised until the standard bicycle tub
ing of the present day Is practically
| indestructible.
In addition to thus depriving the
/ assemblers of material here, 1t was
voted at the meeting to send an agent
| to England at once. to make arrange
| ments there to prevent the shipment
Of tubing to the United States. The
arrangement will be reciprocal
The success of the agent will have
| much to do with the immediate policy
of the manufacturers in rearranging
the price Of materials and announcing
| the increased cost Of high grade
/ wheels for next season.
| Just as soon as the owners Of the thorough
bred began to cut down the distances In
the races the general interest in the affairs
/ of the turf began to lag 1t Is beginning to
! look as II the promoters of cycle racing have
made a mistake In having many short
| dashes. A good distance race ridden prop
erly will attract the public every time. This
! was illustrated at the big meet in New
/ York city last week. When the hour race
was suggested many people said that it would
| be a tedious affair. 1t was just the reverse.
| and such excitement was never before wit
| messed on cycle track as that which greeted
/ little Michael, the Welsh wonder, and Star
| buck during the last 20 miles of their great
| struggle.
/ question frequently asked of bicycle
| agents nowadays is: What will YOU allow
me on my wheel in exchange for an 1897
tandem, when they ready for distribu-
| tom" Agents everywhere have had this
| query propounded to them until they have
become convinced that next season will be a
I tandem season with a vengeance. One of
! ready been prepared and exhibited is so con-
structed in such manner that the rear
| rider has unobstructed view and perfect
control of the steering. A prominent L. A.
/ fRnto1