Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-21

ebert" Owens Novelties.
The combination wheel at the Owen ex-
hFbit attracts good deal of attention, and
with the aid of a wrench, in few seconds
the machine can be changed from a mans
to lady's wheel. In the same exhibit is
the pyramid or triangular frame wheel
prophesied to be the coming wheel. This
style of wheel can be made lighter than
the present diamond frame, and likewise
constructed and sold at a cheaper figure.
Another novelty in this stand, the inven-
ton of the exhibitor, is a pedal which
clamps the shoe similar to the clamping of
the front part of a skate. BY thrusting the
shoe in the pedal the clamps are tightened
and the harder the shoe is pushed forward
the tighter the clamps grip the SOLE In
this stand also are the oil-retaining cones
and head bearing. with the use of which it
is claimed a machine can be ridden for a
year without O;ling.
Among the many curiosties at the show
there is one which Is deserving of more
than passing notice. 1t is wheel that
IS claimed to be the smallest ever manu-
featured. and it is. probably true. 1t was
manufactured by the Dart Bicycle Com
pany. and is with the Smith exhibit. The
wheel weighs about eight pounds. and has
a miniature diamond frame, with sprocket
wheels, pedals, handle bar and all other
accessories In similar proportions. The
wheels of the bicycle measure about nine
inches.
Jewcled bicycles.
The curiosity of the ladies who visited the
show was directed to the jewel Wheel
which is fad of this seasons growth
During the week there We're two of these
1eweled wheels on exhibition, one of them
decorated by Tiffany, while the other is
mounted in gold for exhibition purposes by
the Spaldlng people. This collection will
be increased by a Spaldingized wheel Of
the Rambler patent, which has been for
warded to this city. The combined value
of these three wheels is about $500 An
iS he :;
cycle which is on exhibition at the Sterl-
ing booth. These are the styles of wheel
which society demands. and where in the
future a mans wealth can be Judged an
proximately by the value of the bicycle he
rides.
For the military service the bicycle pre-
SCENTS different appearance. The gun at
tached to the machine gives it a grim and
vicious appearance. For use in the army
the bicycle must be built to stand the strain
of carrying heavy weights across wide ter
rltories: The military tandem. with it's
Springfield guns. it's signal corps outfit
pair of revoivers. blankets. coats and all
other paraphernalia. weighs but eighty
pounds From the present outlook the mill
in service than the single wheel. A still
more remarkable machine is the tricycle.
built for two. the center piece being
maxim Iapid-firing gun, calculating to
machine weighs less than fifty pounds,
while the gun weighs two hundred pounds,
and yet the tricycle. is constructed so as
to Withstand weight of five hundred
pounds.
For Business Purposes.
There is one tricycle. on exhibition which
has body box for carrying goods as large
as the body of a good many business house
wagons. This machine is calculated to be
pushed by one man. There is a variety of
attachments for bicycles calculated to en-
nance their value to business men. There
are several luggage carriers on exhibition
but these are designed mostly for amateur
cyclists.
In racing line the public has seen but
little outside CT the racing machine, and
almost every exhibit has a racer shown.
There were no quads. quints or sextuplets
lest week. The tandem was limit for
combination machine, and, Judging by the
number on exhibition, it must be expected
to sell number of these wheels in this
city the coming season.
1t was unfortunate that several of the
biggest attractions of the show in the
way of special exhibits have been delayed