Milford chronicle., 1896-07-10
WEALTH In WHEELS.
Enormous Capital Invested in
Bicycles in This Country.
An Industry That Has Grown to Mann
moth Proportions In a Few Years
Time-Cost TO the Makers
and Users.

Some Of the larger companies have
capital invested in the manufacture
OF bicycles alone aggregating S6,0oO,OOo.
YET, as has been shown, these firms are
but 1.-THE OF the whole, and the indus
try is growing larger and more wide
spread every day.
Judging from the capital invested
in our own concern" said the manager
OF one of these firms 10 me, Il should
say that S3O,OOO,00 to s40,O0o,000 would
be conservative computation of the
amount Of capital invested in the BIZ
cycle industry in this country. And this
is for the manufacture of bicycles alone.
j do not include those necessary ae-
eessories-saddles lamps, bells, chains,
tubing and odd parts. The manufac-
ture Of these articles has necessitated
the building of specially constructed
plants attached to existing factories,
and, of course, the employment Of many
hundreds of additional hands. In these
reinforcements l do not think / am
oyerestimating when l say that an
other S1O,OOO,OOO or S15,OO0,000 has
been invested in the last three or four
years, and with perfectly satisfactory
results.
There is, however, a peculiar and
altogether unlocked for change in proc
ess. When the industry started upon
its truly remarkable course bicycle
makers were unpfovided with ma
chinery and tools for the manu-
facture of certain parts of the wheel.
such, for instance. as those made with
screw machinery. This was almost
entirely done by one firm. whose bust
ness in consequence increased enor-
mously. Necessity is the mother of
invention, you know, and as it soon
became evident that these parts could
be made more cheaply than they could
be bought there very quickly arose
bright engineering geniuses in nearly
every establishment who set them
selves to the invention of new and inn
proved machinery with which to make
them on the parent premises"
II do not fear contradiction" said
tine manager of one Of the largest ath-
letic sundries concerns in the country
to me, "when declare my belief that
there is not trade in the United States
lthat has not been benefcially affected
by the bicycle industry. Why, even
the butchers are benefited by the i'm
proved health and healthier appetites
of the people, Members of every trade
have found it to their advantage to
invest some money in one of the many
necessary adjuncts to the bicycle pas
time.
''The leather goods people have found
it necessary to invest in a special class
of goods favorable to the manufacture
of saddles. bags. valises and such like
suDdries. The shoemalers now make
specially designed shoes. leggings. etc.
The glovemalSers are affected. Watch
makers manufacture and keep on sale
cyclometers and such like instruments
of precision. Photographic apparatus
makers turn out specially designed |
cameras. Woodworkers and cane
workers and cork cutters, engravers, !
loclSsmiths and newspapers all have !
found it positively necessary to invest !
more or less capital in various branches |
of the bicycle industry. The total zap
ital thus invested, entirely outside of
the actual manufacture of bicycles, can |
not be far short of S2O,OOO,OOO or $780,
100000. The investment is spread over |
an enormous area"
A little sum in arithmetic is neces- |
sary to get at the amount of money |
spent by the devOtees of the new pas
time.
Prices of wheels vary from $50 to !
500 and upward; SIS may, therefore,
be pretty safely accepted as an average !
first cost to the owner of a bicycle !
Put down another IS for such adj |
juncts as lamp, bell. cyclometer and a |
few useful, handy tools. There is pos
sibly a suit of bicycling clothes. which |
may be estimated at $50, and then for
the simple repairs that may be needed
while on a long trip and away from the |
regular repair shops of the maker.
These are not likely to exceed IS in a |
year. The guaranty given with all BIZ
cycles covers all ordinary repairs not |
the result of carelessness or accident |
caused by the owner. Together these |
sums, which include first cost, amount |
to S105. Now by the end of the sea-
son a rider may be tired of his ''bike"
or sees one he likes better. and wishes |
to make an exchange. His old machine
and $50 to $50 will procure him brand
new one of the latest model. Hence we |
may take it that the annual expense of !
keeping a bicycle. inclusive of first |
cost, is about $50. or. say. 81 per week. !
This, OF course, does not include re-
freshments on journeys. hotel and |
other incidental expenses.-N. Y. Her
aid.