The San Francisco call., 1896-11-22

pressure OF spring set in the forkhandle
opens valve in the compressed air cham
ber and the wheels are set in motion.
Fixed IN the forward part of the ma
chine is an air gauge which has two dials
one indicating the amount of air in the
cylinders and the other the pressure of the
compressed air in the chest beneath the
seat.
The method OF steering the submarine
bicycle is rather odd. There is no rudder
nor any provision for one, but when be-
meath the surface the machine is so evenly
balanced that the leaning of the rider to
one side or the other causes it to change
its plane, and consequently lis course.
When it is desired to rise to the surface
water is forced from the chambers within
the cylinders and the submarine bicycle
and its rider slowly rises to the domain of
light and air.
1t is surely novel way to seek pleasure
in bicycle beneath the waters surface,
but that it can be genuine pleasure will
become plain to any one who will take
sufficient time to give the matter little
study. For instance, what would be more
pleasant on hot summer day than 10 90
down to some resort on a submarine
bicycle at whatever distance from the sur
face the rider may desire. OF course.
there will be some difficulty at first steer
ing proper course, but genius always
solves such problems as that, whether on
land or water. 1t would only be ques-
ton of a short time until charts of the
underwater route to adjacent summer re-
sorts would be on sale.
Again, how pleasant it would be con-
struct sextuplet submarine bicycle. eouip
it with good-sized storage battery, prop
erly protected, and thus have an ample
source Tor brilliant electric light, that
would enable three couples to 90 bike
riding under water, instead of taking
moonlight rides on the surface. The cleo
trio light would also guard against any
collision that might otherwise take place.
The accompanying illustration shows
the bicycle just as it will appear when
ridden by submarine diver. The illus
tration also shows how easy it will be
with the new machine for diver to circu-
late about wreck and ascertain its exact
position without having to go Crawling
about Shiny decks and run the risk of
breaking his air-tube by getting it twisted
with the tangled rigging. 1t is natural
supposiIion that if society takes to the
sub marine bicycle there will be new
styles in diving armor. and that this will
furnish new line of business for the pur-
veyors who cater to the deyotees of
fashion.
Inventor Plass is enthusiastic over this.
the latest child of his brain. "Why.D
said he, sit is a wonder to me that no one
ever thought of this machine before. You
see, if a bicycle can go on top of the water
what is there to prevent the construction
of one that can be ridden under water.
The principle is just the same as that of
the boat. We have boats that ride ON ton
of the water. and the United States Gov
ernment has just built a boat that will
travel about underneath the surface. II
was the knowledge of all these plans that
set me to thinking about the idea which
has led to the invention of the submarine
bicycle.
"While thought first of the machine
being of great use to the diver it has
seemed to me that there was no reason
why it should not be popular with people
generally. L don't have any idea that it
will be necessary for the rider of this
wheel to wear heavy armor like the diver
does / know, of course, that it takes
something pretty strong to resist the
water, but 1t is my observation that these
days, when anything new is wanted,
somebody always manages to get it up.
So put this submarine bicycle into prac-
tfcal shape. OF course I'm proud of it,
but truly believe that it Is going to be-
come popular and everyday method of
"I'm hurrying the construction as rap
Idly as possible, but have been put to un-
avoidable delay by the difficulty of secur-
ing some parts. They are not made by
the regular bicycle manufacturers. so I
have had to have them built to order In |
a few weeks / hope to have the submarine
bicycle ready for test. Clad in flannel
lined diving-suit the cold will not be felt" |