New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-30
THE BICYCLE TRADE ABROAD.

WHAT COLONEL POPE AND r. LINDSAY COLEMAN
LEARNED on THEIR EUROPEAN TRIPS
r. Lindsay Coleman the president of the Cycle
Board Of Trade and of the Western Wheel Works.
was a passenger the steamship St Louis. on
board Of which Ii Hung Chang and his suite
Mr.. Coleman is one of the interesting men In the
cycling world at present. and the aggressive policy
he has pursued since he put at the head OF
the Board of Trade has endeared him to many of
the ma 1ufacturers and dealers. Mr.. Coleman
sailed for Europe about month ago, mainly for
pleasure trip. He gave considerable attention 10
the cycling situation on the other side and he
comes back full Of information which will be read
with interest by the makers Of wheels as we'll as
the riders
II saw nothing in the wheels over there TO
brighten me-" said he. Our wheels all right,
and the American maker who wishes 10 make
reputation for his wheel the other side should
he careful to stick to American ideas throughout.
Our manufacturers do not want TO make the mis-
take OF trying to make wheel which is half
American and half-English. with the idea that II
will catch the foreigner 1t won't. There are only
about three American firms, think which can
afford TO compete with the foreigners present
Then. cheap American wheels won't sell in Eng
land. Over there they think n great deal Of the
trade mark. mark they call It, The Eng
lsh makers show disposition to make their
wheels lighter
Speaking about the motors Mr.. Coleman said:
| was in Paris While this machine will do all
right for Paris | hardly think il will 90 for this
country. Just now They will all right
smooth asphalt and macadam. but they would no,
do on.thc rough cobbcstCnes and Belgian blocks
Our streets here may in time be suitable for tho
motors They particularly useful there
for delivery service and they can do as much
work as a double-ho truck.
This talk about any feeling against American
wheels in England is not true. The only feeling
which exists against American wheels over there
is from the English manufacturers one novelty
which caught my eye wicker crate and
left order for 1909 Of them The gear case
there is all the rage: In fact they have TO use
them on account Of the mud Why when it rains
in London il fairly rains mud. The day of the
Dunlop tire has passed TIE singe-tube tire and
the wooden rims. distnctivey American innova-
tons slowly hut surely gaining favor on the
other side
Another feature which impressed me most ia
vorably' said Mr.. Coleman. is the condition Of
the bicycle industry in England. The condition of
the trade there is healthier than il is here: in fact
wherever | went found the trade conditions
healthy and strong.
1T is true that some of the American firms have
tried TO unload their wares In England. but
don't know of any who have succeeded. An Eng
lsh reporter attempted to get an interview from
me in London. but somehow got all mixed up.
and when | met him again about three weeks
later he said that he just beginning to catch
up. | had told him few facts and given him per
mission to put them in his own language. or to
suit himself Some people are talking about many
wonderful Improvements which will be made in
the 81 models. but don't where our high
grade wheels be improved to any great ex-
tent Regarding prices next year am really I'm
the dark as TO the intention of the majority.
know that firm will not devate a particle from
the position 1T took several years ago We seemed
to hit the right idea then. and | cannot see why
we should make change
There is one thing which you can say without
will not take in England for they think too much
Of their mark. or trademark as we call 1t in this
Mr.. Coleman did not care re-, to tax abou, the
GS S Mrs coem9n Who is Fair Trsn a m
met her, husband at the pier.
Colonel Albert A. Pope was also passenger on
the ST Louis. So many people wanted to shake the
Colonel by the hand and so many more wanted to
pier when he was surrounded. In self-protecon
he backed up T. a pile of merchandise and. seating
porers to "drc away and that he would do his
best 10 answer all the questions as fast they
Paris Holland and Belgium There Is splendid
very best material" he said.
The Colonel cited one instance Of how on. Ameri-
can ilrn had sent lot OF wheels TO England. which
mad been listed at $50 He said that the people
there would put no faith in such wheels ana would
have none OF them He Is of the opinion that there
are several firms In this country which make better
WhtelS IMAM are turned out In Europe The Colonel
said that some OF the foreigners. who list their
bicycles at s2J. do not always stick to prices. He
added that some OF the makers there would
not relish such statement but that II was true
just the same.
Colonel Pope j. firm believer In the single-iube
tire He said that the old prejudice against the
single tubes in England was dying out. ana that
they were gaining converts every day. Some people
he declared. continued to pay 6 for double tub
tires but he thought that In time the single tube
would entirely supplan IL
There are plenty Of cheap wheels 10 be found
over there. most Of them coming from Germany"
he said. However. the buying public Is quick TO
see the faults in a wheel. and they Will have moth
ing 10 do with the Inferior grade II bicycles
Colonel Pope was OF the opinion that the bicycle
business I'm this country would settle down, al
though he thought that there would be many more
failures before the "a models were put on the
market -. n. ,..