Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-26

interest and attention in various sections
of the country just at present and is a
very easiy-running automobile. Judging
from all accounts. The construction of the
machine is very simple. and easily under
stood. 1t would hardly do for road riding.
where there are any hills to be climbed.
For parks and summer resorts, especially
along the water front, where the roads are
level and even. the quadricycle will prove
great thing. The seesaw quadricycle Is a
fout wheeled affair. its name implies.
The rear set of wheels are slightly larger
In circumference than the forward or guild
ing wheels Motion is given the machine
by the weight of the riders. who sit upon
seats differing very considerably from he
ordinary bicycle seat.
These seats, of which there are four two
in front and two in the rear are fixed at
the ends of long levers which are not nm
like the walking beam of the ordinary side
wheel steamboat. The END of each lever
rot occupied by the seats for the rider is
connected by an upright driving rod with A
large sprocket wheel in the center of the
machine.
Over this sprocket wheel is passed a
sprocket chain, which is carried around thu,
ear axle of the machine. As the riders
rove themselves up and down. in a see
saw sort of fashion, the opposite ends of
the levers work like driving rods. forcing
the Sprocket wheel around and so motion
is given the machine
Directly over the front axle and behind
the 'front.' riders is placed an ordinary BIZ
cycle handle bar connecting with tne axIa
which turns like the front axle of a car
rage. and single saddle This is for the
attendant or governor of the machine He
mas nothing to do with driving it. his duties
being confined to steering the contriyan nee
and applying the powerful brake like tha
ordinary cycle brake. to the machjne when
us speed becomes too rapid for safety or
when 1t is desired to come to a complete
stop.
At first sight one is apt to think that the
weight of the machine. one hundred and
nifty pounds. is detrimental to speed or
ease in moving it. This. however is 10.
so, for while that is six times the weight of
an Ordinary bicycle. the equal distribution
OF all weight and the easy working of the
hall bearings make the machine in reality
quite easy to move, and il is claimed that
recent tests have proved that grades are
more easily overcome by the see-saw qua l.
ricycle than with the ordinary machine
ridden by one person and gearcd up 10
Seventy-two, which is an unusually high
gear
The fitting or see-saw levers at either
end OF the machine are supported over the
axleS by upright supports or standards
strongly braced and working on five roller
bearings. The seats for the riders at the
two extreme ends of these levers are COM
fortably upholstered affairs. and below
Them are adjustable foot-rests which al
low riders of different heights to secure at
all times comfortable foot-rest or brace
The framework of the machine which
Is oblong, is made of cold drawn seamless
tubing. exactly like that used In the con-
struction of the ordinary bicycle. The
rear wheels are thirty inches in diameter.
while the front ones are two inches small
er. The rims are of wood, while the spokes
are made of heavy wire.
There is considerable complaint, and in
some cases justly, too. over the action of
some dealers of the city. after selling a
wheel to a rider, especially when the pay
ment is made in cash. AS soon as the
wheel is off the hands of the dealer he be-
comes somewhat independent. II the
a..flN ion sbar 10
some trouble experienced IN getting a
change, and minor repairs are invariably
charged for. OF course, the rider cannot
expect to have his repair work done free,
be made by the dealer without cost which
are hardly ever done Prior to selling the
wheel the dealer is generally extremely
anxious to make the sale, and is ready and
wiling to make certain promises, which
never hold good after the wheel is sold
There are some riders in the city who are
perfectly able. yet who never would think
of paying cash down for wheel, simply
for this reason If there is money due on
the bicycle. 1t is quite certain the dealer
will be more interested than IL the wneel
was paid for In cash. and he will be ready
In a good many cases to give the rider the
benefit of the doubt, and make some re-
pairs free of cost.
An amusing story is told on one of the
local dealers who refused to make certain
repairs to a wheel bought of him for cash.
The rider being unsuccessful in getting the
work done. waited his opportunity. There
were several customers in the store, and
one man was about to buy a wheel, when
the rider approached the dealer, and in a
tone loud enough to be heard by the pros
pectivc buyer asked to have certain re-
pairs made to his wheel. The dealer
wanted to make good impression on the
buyer, and could not refuse the request OF
the rider. who was persistent. He got the
job done free. and has advised his friends
to work the same system.