New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-21
WORTH Utmost NOTHING.
1T Is HARD TO GIVE AN OLD ORDINARY"
AWAY.
SALE OF A LOT IN CHICAGO AT 80 GENTS
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM AND

EAcH-DIFFERENcEs BETWEEN THEM AND
THE WHEELS OF TO DAY.
Tho old and unsolved mystery as to what be-
comes of all the pins is really not so difficult OF
exclamation as a more modern question OF like
form What has become Of all the old-fashiOned
high bicycles-the "ordinaries. as they were
christened when the safety began to supersede
Them Pins are comparatively easy to account
for. but how could hundreds and thousands OF
machines like the wheels used ten years ago
have disappeared so swiftly and completely from
the face of the earth!
II Is rare sight now 10 meet with one IN
the CITY streets or upon tie roads most frequent
ed by riders. The man bold enough to EXHIBIT
himself upon the "ordinary' knows that he
must be stared by every passer-by and must
run the gauntlet of the ever-present small boys
70. too gentle criticism. Consequently. there
are few Of him-so few that they cut no figure
whatever in accounting for the missing wheels
Occasionally a boy may he seen struggling
unon the lofty perch OF Of the ancient models.
bu, this Is almost az unusual as to see a man
riding one There Is a strong probability that
If all the cellars and garrots and old storerooms
could be searched they would yield up goodly
number Of the lost machines Especially would
this be the case in the country towns, where
people have more spare room for 'gory-hoes
than do city folk.
"Tu tell YOU what has become Of the high
wheels" said Elliott Mason, Of the Pope Manu-
featuring Company. "Theyre all gone t. Wash
.ngton It has grown to be standing joke with
US that anything in the way of bicycle when
is So bad that no ono will use II anywhere else
finds A harbor in the capital The streets there
are ALL asphalted and kept in 81 n good condition
that pretty poor wheel would run easily.
"A good many Of the old high bicycles are
being ridden with great zeal at present by the
negroes I'm tn South. The price has hnilY
come down to suit thcm-that is there Is pnfcti-
callv no price at all-and they seem TO get
plenty Of sport out Of the old machines. You
see. they are not particular about the fashion Of
the day In parts of the West and through the
hackwoods districts there is a sprinkle Of the
'ordinares' have often noticed them. as was
passing through the country. standing In rail
way sheds or near tn STATIONS suppose mere
are plenty slowed away in barns and loits.
HARD To GIVE THEN AWAY.
There is abs ,lutely no sale for them here
They had reign Of just about twelve years
1875 10 1890 when the safety came IN. ten
orally speaking You can't even give them away
now as We dis Covered while ago. Jus' al'cr
the cycle Show we threw lot Of them out INTO
tho stree, The newsboys and hoothlacks came
along and kicked at them scornfully bu' scare t
IL a bow condesca ndcd to take ore home IRON,
ably most OF them have been broken mp Tor "d
junk" 49,, ,.,,o. 4,
respcci To prices may he grasped by slhei'
connarls,n At the height OF thclr pllulall'N
the old machines sold for from $40 10 $40 WIN
$50 as the averag" for strictly hleh-gril'
wheel A. an auction In chicago l'-t yea nun
d,eds Of them were disposed Of ilr -" cents
apiece. Ia, , .ho,,
have been put Is mat 81 s.rtl"s "a" 80 49,,
stores where bicycle and their acccs-'res are
kcn, This is becoming more notlcchh" a" "'.'
GOES on giving risc 10 the susG"-'"h 'Il"' ~
hirh wheel may In time bc regarded as the pc
Guitar symbol ~ the cycle trade a. IN" I"su'
and mortar now indicate that e the pharmacist
THE PARTS ARE vsELEss.
'. ,e y mistake % suppose that the ia ma
chi,os can oyer b.. used again ia The constru lion
-. tho nrcsen, wheels All the parts. from inc
leas, j., the greatest. are OF 50 much heavier
md clums,cr Workmanship that there Is 40 id'r"
f,r ,bc,n IN IN. new and graceful designs There
in no way. either ~ rcmouldlng them So iha' th'y
ulU answer the purpose.
" Maltby. the well-known trl'k r'1'r' Ven
asked about the difference bci"'c" r.'''E NIX"
wheel and safety. shi-
..Iu some respects the old model was more T'l
hl,-some one required good d'a1 ",rr con"
,h.re was constant danger - taking hrhirIs
ON the other hand. the mac hines were iH".h
easier 10 steer be- au4e the riders seat "dH "a
rcctlv above the large front wheel lhr} Were
mo-, ncnrlv SO sensitive - disturbing lnNu'n '"S
and only very poor b!cy list would he In danger
~ losing his balance. think they allowed ~
tie NOR. opportunity. too. FOR fancy WORK. hut
for orilnar, riding. they were dangerous ana ar"
well displaced by the safety .,
Another man who was gr9duatrd from th' "l'
e,vln into the new expressed the same opinions
|
said that good rider In the days o. the "tIl-
nary" could sit still on his wheel ana MAINTAIN
his equilibrium. .,.,..- ...-, -.
but going uphill was heart breaking work,
he added The machines weighed AZ least Sky
! mounds and when You came 10 an ascent "h'ch
me modern whcclman would laugh at You simply
sighed got off and labori0usly walkei the DIZZY +.
c,a 70 the top Small stones that a safrty W"ulh
run over with scarcely jar would upset the
high wheel In a twlnkling. II was an unusuai
thing for rider 10 get home after TRIP "l,n"u'
having taken at least one desperate header
PRINCETON PLAYING MUCH BETTtK'
THE LAST FEW DAYS PUTS THE NINE INTO GOOD
SHAPE FOR THE YALE GAME.