The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-24

Was Put Together by a western
Hardware Dealer From the Mate
rial on Sale in His store.
Copyright, 1896.
The oldest bicycle in the world is own
ed by T. 3. Shannon of Blaine, Wash
It is safe to say that never before has a
bicycle been so fearfully and wonderfully
wrought. 1t was not built for active
service, and there are few who would
care TO ride on it; yet from the inge-
nuity of its construction it has attracted
a great deal OF attention. 1t has fired
many Juvenile minds with ambition to
build one on a similar plan, and Incl
dentally has depleted the tool boxes Of
many a household. For this bicycle is
built entirely of TOOLS
Mr.. Shannon Is an enthusiastic wheel
man, and he deals in tools for mills and
loggers, as the town has large Single
industries. He thought, perhaps. that
such a wheel might serve a useful pur-
pose in carrying on his business, if not
his person. Desiring, therefore. to con-
struct something thoroughly unique in
appearance, he set to work to make a
bicycle which should contain nothing that
he did not supply. 1t was not built in a
day, and great many tools We're tried
before those actually used were select
ed. He was sorely puzzled how to sup
ply the frame and the sprocket wheel.
He was greatly assisted, however by sew
eral young friends, who became so in
terested that their fathers and mothers
heard of nothing but the new bicycle for
over a week 1t was finally decided to
use for the frame of the machine two
wood saws, mop stick. some wood saw
blades and a pair of strap hinges. The
wood saws were placed on either side of
the rear Wheel the axle passing through
their handles.
At the other lower ends were fitted two
beveled edge emery wheels, the bevels
facing each other so as to form a groove
for the dogs chain, which was employed
as a sprocket chain; and a very respect
able one IL made. The wheels were two
8-inch single saws. When the wheel
was rolled around they looked like buzz
saws. MT. shannon was much amused
when the boys said they were fitted with
steel rims and punctureless tires For
the front forks two nlckeled stove rods
were bolted firmly into cross-cut saw
handle irons, passing through the iron
and forming the front hub, while BUSH
ings at each end of the nipple held all
in place. Then came. the problem of
providing the head and handle bar; and
almost every article in stock was taken
out and its availability tested. It was
finally decided to employ a carpenter S
iron bed screw with an automatic push
door bell attached. The bicycle was now
nearly completed but the hopes of the
builders were nearly shattered by their
failure for some time to discover what
would take the place of pedals and cranks.
Finally one of the boys suggested two
grind-stone cranks, which were secured
In place by the use of a short nipple
running through the sprocket wheel and
resting on the two wood saws. The seat
spring was an OK bow, fastened to the
frame by clamps; while for the saddle a
stove urn was used. A small American
flag was fastened to the handle bar and
this singular bicycle was complete. 1t can
be rolled about without shaking to pieces,
and will probably be seen before long
at bicycle shows throughout the coun-
try. The boys who helped build it feel
justly proud.