The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-01-29
TRIBUNE TANDEM.
Second Bicycle Built for Two
Introduced Into the Islands.
JANUARY %, 1896.

FhlS IS bicycle week with
us, and as usual we are to
the front with the latest in
wheels. The Australia
brought us consignment of
10 Tribune bicycles with the
latest improvements. Among
them was a tandem, the
second bicycle of the kind
brought to the islands: 1t
was ridden about town yes
terday and created a great
deal of atten ion and favor
able comment. AS a result
our store was crowded dur
ing the day with pc sons
interested in cycling. We
received four wheels for
ladies, and these cannot be
excelled in workmanship and
finish.
The Scientific American of
January 4th contains a page
write-up of the Black Bicy-
Gle Manufacturing Company
and their product--Tribune|
wheels. This paper does
not give advertising puffS,
but describes manufactures
on their merits. IS IS =!
The factory and works of
the Black Manufacturing
Company, of Erie, Pa, was
selected by the paper as a
representative company |
which produce the highest
grade of wheel and which put |
it on the market purely on |
its own merits without the |
adventurous advertisement |
of paid riders.
"The wheel made by this company, the
Tribune bicycle, embodieS the best posi-
bic practice and is correspondingly free
from structural variations of improved |
merit. The tubings, whose walls are of |
20 gage thickness, is of American make,
the company having found that English
tubing could not be obtained of sufficiently
even quality. At the functions of the
tubes forged connections are employed"
"The st ndard finish of the machine IS
black enamel and nickel plate. The en-
= m in tI1yn IF Ind |
rubber enamel and two polishing coats,
the frame being rubbed down with rotten
stone between the applications. This
gives the finish equal to that of 2 piano
body. All nickel plated parts are first
copper plated. This prevents water or
moisture getting Pnder the nickel and
ruSting the steel and thereby causing a
separation of the coating.
The aim of the constructor of this
typical American wheel has been to secure
and produce an absolutely
standard article. Its criterion is its quail
ity pure and simple. There are, however,
some novelties introduced that are especi-
ally worthy of illustration. One of these
affects the crank and era k shaft mechan-
ism, the crank being secured to the shaft in
a new way. V-shaped teeth are formed upon
the crank shaft and upon the aperture in
the pedal arm. This aperture in the
pCddl al III - Splll anu pIONIQcQ with
tightening screw. To attach the crank !
arm to the shaft, it is thrust over the end
Of the shaft and the tightening screw IS
turned up, when it is.sec red as rigdIv as
# all were one piece of metal.
The handle bar is made adjustable by
an arrangement of equal simplicity and
efficiency. By reversing the handle bars
hey can be used in up-turned or down
turned position.
''The sprocket wheels are cut to the
,ycloidal or theoretically correct curve, ;
which avoids all friction of the Grain
against the teeth. This has long been the
speciality of the Black Manufacturing
company
eve also illustrate the system of truing
Up the wheel. Each wheel is mounted on
gaging frame, and the workman. BY
etting up and loosenng the nipples,
rings the rim into an absolutely perfect =
lane. The steering arrangements of the
andem machine deserves attention.
'prOckets are carried by the front and rear
teering posts, and these sprockets are
by chains and rods so as to in
ure unity of steering action between the 2
rOnt and rear handle bars"