Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-30
AMONG THE WHEELMEN.

"." nWONu III WitLLLWLM
Novelty is priced by cyclists as
highly as by any other clnsa or element.
New devices of demonstrated merit are
always eagerly welcomed, whether they
apply to the machine itself or to the
odds and ends that go to make up the
wheelmau's outfit. but the cyclists
thirst for novelty is not by any means
assuHged by the efforts of manufacturers
in developing new ideas in construction.
They seek tho unusual in their very
pursuit. of their farorite pastime And,
10 this connection, it il singular to
note that very few fads or oddities have
been introduced in bicycle riding. Tho
once famous "dsnlon drill" of the
Kings County Wheelmen eclipsed all
subsequent attempts at spectacular
riding and occasionally games and
dance on bicycles have. been heard Of,
Several attempts have been made to
develop bicycle hands, hut with little
success. In that fact lay the oppor-
tunity for some one to spring the
cherished novelty. and SONS one has
done so. The very latest thing in
cycling is the megaphune hand, and
the wonder is that it was not thought
of before.
\ II. b. Fullerton of the Whirling
Deryishes of brooklyn, N u, is re-
sponsble for the idea, and it is so
simple that il cum BIZ adopted easily by
almost any cycling organization. The
megaphones, according 10 Mr.. Fuller
toms scheme, noed not DO large,
averaging not over 60 inches in length,
and having, il possible. a grip or
handle near the mouthpiuce. The in
struments may be homemade anu an
swer overy purpose The leader is
selected IN the person of some member
who has little musical ability. lie
selects as many players as hp wishes,
thuso having fair singing voices being
preferred, naturally. They initiate
brass instruments with their mouths,
blowing through the megaphonus, and
with little care in the direction Of
the various "pnrts," the effect is do
cidedly pleasing. For parades and
similar functions the bicycle mega
phone band is destined to hacome
popular feature. 1t requires very little
practice to mako score of musically-
inclined cyclists proficient at the now
game.
John Thomson, civil engineer of
New York and builder of intricate
and dellcata machinery, has watched
the development Of the bicycle closely,
and is deuply interested in tho ex-
rerimenta being made with chainless
devices for the transmission of mower.
He argues that it the addition of
littlo weight ia not objected To in the
chainless models, the manufacturers
might go little further in that re.
"A rnn nh inn init
double the wearing surface and slightly
increase the effectiveness He would
duplicate tho gears and connecting
Hhafts, placing one ON either side of
the frame. Such an arrangement woud
equalize the strain, hn says, aud be a
distinct advantage in many other ways.
The objections to double sprocksts and
chains would not necessarily hold good
in the case of double bepel gears. Pos
sibly some of the manufacturers have
already experimental ON these linus.
IL SO, the result of the efforts would
make interesting reading.
Ii ever there was a case of prostitu-
tion of good English words it is ex-
empliiied il the degradation of the
term high grade'' as applied to hi
| cycles. That it has become mienompr
is potent to every thinking man, and
to all intents and purposes the term
| has lost it's real Significance in that
connection. The ubject ia handled
in an intelligent editorial, printed in a
recent issue of the American Wheel
men. In summing up the causes which
have leu to the abuse of the term, that
journal says: Every picayuhe maker
In the country has during tho East few
| years placed on the market a high
grado' bicycle, listed alta high grade
price, and ii is because of this that
confusion has resulted. Purchasers
thought they were getting really
high grade machine, just because they
paid 800 for it, and thousands Of
cheap, lily constructed shoddy ma
chimes were sold with nothing more to
recommend them than their list price.
y There has been gradual
| diminution in the use Of the term, and
it is cheering prospect that the
conditions for next seasons trade will
accelerate it's disuse in it's present APP
| plication.
Something more than mere price
will have to designate the meaning OF
grade. That something is the name,
with the attending reputation of the
i llppuE uop VI lIt
term would be in its application to the
manufacturer, who could be called
high grade or the reverse, aud not to
the machine. for past and present
reputation goes with the machine. The
abuse of the term has been carried to
the limit in the past, and it ia in the
province of every one connected with
cycling to rectify the error OF common
impression which has come from it.
Announcement of price. in connection
with use of the term, has no bearing
on its meaning. Machines listing al
less than 500 in The past have had
every right to be called high grade,
simply because their makers HAD be-
hind them the reputation OF building
wheels of the first class, wheals that
would prove tho claims Of their makers
that everything going into their con
struction was the best that coulc ht
turned out with abundant capital anG
an intention to hecome a permanenc,
in the trade. Others have been throw
together by those seeking only tom.
porary gain, and securing an adyan
tage by the liberal use of the term,
high grade.
THE LOCATION OF oHURCnES.
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