The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-05-17

Dalzell. The son frankly admitted that
his fathers wheel was not made until
after Macmllan's.
1T is admitted" says Johnston, that
the dandy horse without gearing came
into England from France at the end OF
the last or the beginning of the present
century-the two wheels being the same
siZe-and the rider propelled 1t by sit
ting stride legs and pushing 1t along
with his feet alternately on the ground.
Macmillan improved this type by SOW
ing the problem, and set the fashion to
the world how to balance and propel
two wheels by mechanical driving. This
he did by affixing cranks to the axle OF
the rear or driving wheel, which in turn
were joined to rods or levers, Jointed at
the other end to StirrupS or pedals
hanging from each side of the fore part
of the machine. His machine was,
therefore, the prototype of the present
day chain driven safety, and the princl-
pie he introduced by driving from the
back wheel has never been surpassed.
He showed his inventive genius still fur~
Their by making the rear wheel for the
first time the larger of the two, so that
with every turn of the crank on the
large wheel he secured increased pace.
somewhat analogous to the well known
term of gearing up with different sized
cogwheels and the chain. AS regards
the mode of driving and the rear wheel
being the largest, Dalzells wheel was
similar in these respects to Macmll
lanS.
"In contrast to Dalzelrs machine,
Macmillans was beautifully made, for
he was well known all over the south or
Scotland was an excellent craftsman,
he demonstrated it's practicabilty by
becoming an extra expert rider. He was
frequently seen in Dumfries on market
days riding easily the twenty eight
miles to and from his residence at Court
hill. Then in the summer of 1871 or
1912 he accomplished the first long-dis-
lance ride on record by pedaling his
way to Glasgow, about sixty eight miles,
on a visit to three OF his brothers resi-
dent there.
EN- route he stayed over night at Old
Cumnock with the parish schoolmaster.
who subsequently gave up his school at
the disruption of the Church of Scot
land in 1S43. Through the courtesy and
kindness of 3. A. Todd of the Cumnock
Express, an enthusiastic antiquariat
we hunted up some valuable information
about Macmillan's visit, and several
copies of his bicycle were made at Ma
cartney's millwright and engineering
works there afterward, and one of the
best riders was an employee named
James Dalzell. 1t is needless to say Mac
millan's progress all the way caused
great excitement. and on reaching Clas-
gov he was surrounded by such crowd
that he was thankful wher he reached
the residence of one of his brothers, on
the south side of the city. Two of his
sisters and several other relatives and
many elderly Dumfriesians are still
alive. and relate some wonderful stories
about him,
Thomas Mccall. Kilmarnock, ma
tive of Macmillan's district, and who
as a school boy had frequently run after
Macmillan and his horse testifies how
he afterward in serving his apprentice
ship as a joiner made and sold several
copies of Macmillan's bicycle, and rode
one himself. Mccall further SAYS at
least one of his bicycles was sold to an
English medical gentleman, which in
turn was copied by a tradesman in his
district. Was there anything, therefore.
to prevent a copy of Macmillan's geared
dandy finding its way into France?
Can 1t be possible that Lallement. the
mechanic in the employ of Michaux.
who is credited with inventing the bone
shaker. may have been COPY of Mac
millan's, and tried to improve on it? Be
that as 1t may, it is at least premature
on the part of the French nation to
erect a statue to MichauX as the inven-
tor of the bicycle. Macmillan was many
years before him. according to the evil
dence l have collected In my native
county OF Dumfries"
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