The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-23
for the purpose of turning out this

1OE 0uO RotROSC Vi tVlhiHB QuU GIlS
wheel.
Mr. Collins, by the way, has received
offers for his patents which would make
him a rich man were he to accept them,
hut he says he will not sell at any figure.
A Cleveland, o., concern has tried to copy
his ideas. but it's application for patents
was rejected by the patent office, and now
it is trying TO purchase Mr.. Collins
papers. but as stated before he says under
no consideration will! he sell. A nun Der
of wealthy citizens of Bethlehem have
offered to furnish Mr.. Collins with the
necessary capital to start II factory, while
the boards of trade of Allentown, Sayre,
Newark, n. j., aud other places have
made similar offers. While these offers
of free factory sites, capital, etc., are
pouring in upon Mr.. Collins, the young
inventor is in no hurry to accept any of
them, hut says he will take his time in
making preparations to 90 into the bust
ness of manufacturing his newly invented
wheel.
Last Thursday afternoon MI. Collins
gave the first private exhibition of his
new wheel to about IL dozen gentlemen
invited by him to witness it, the party
consisting of two from Washin gton, two
from Philadelphia, and n representative
Of the Public Ledger, the rest being from
Bethlehem. After explaining his inven-
ton to the party in his little workshop,
showing them every piece of mechanism
used in the construction of the new
bicycle, Mr.. Collins took them out ON an
open lot and demonstrated TO every one S
satisfaction that he has wheel which
cannot be broken down while being ridden
no matter no " roughly used. Mr.. Boyd,
an instructor of riding at the Columbia
Riding Academy, Washington, ID. c.,
tod
ride recklessly over deep bitches in that
lot, large rocks, logs, broken glass, etc
The lot is dumping ground and about
AS rough II place for cycling as can he
imagined. AT first Mr.. Boyd was timid
being afraid of taking "headers,'' but
being assured by Mr.. Collins that he
co"lC not take Il header on his machine.
the Washington rider put on speed and
went over every obstacle aud obstruction
In manner that was perfectly amazing.
This may seem like an exaggeratlon
to the reader, hut II is not. One of the
bitches crossed halr dozen times by Mr..
Boyd was 81 inches deep, and log he
went over three times in succession meas
ured inches in diameter. He likewise
went over ash piles and rocks almost as
easily as if he were riding over a street
paved with Belgian clocks. In going
over these Obstacles the rider rocked
easily In his saddle and there was no
jolting or jarring which even threatened
to throw him headlong over the handle
bars, but which he expected would
happen to him every time he went over
one. Mr.. Boyd is n heavy man, weigh
ing $50 pounds, while the wheel he used
so roughly only weighed 81 pounds. The
exhibition closed with Mr.. Collins re
questing any one in the party to mount
hn a1 n Il g.,
brick wall, guaranteeing it could not
be broken, but no one had the temerity
to accept the challenge, even MIR. Boyd
declining, for fear the sudden stop might
throw him and cause his head to collide
with the side Of the house 1t was Ger
tainly NEST marvellous exhibition of
durability and strength in bicycle, and
Mr.. Collins fully demonstrated to every
ones satisfaction everything he claims
for his newly invented wheel.
Now for a brief and incomplete descrip-
ton of this bicycle: The pneumatic tire,
so to speak, is in the hub of the wheel.
The tire itself is of solid rubber, SO
that it is not puncturi bile. This tire is
not cemented to the rim, but it is sliced
on the inside, so that it fits snugly in
grooves cut into the wood. 1t cannot
possibly become loose, shift or tear off,
and once on 1T stays on until worn cut,
which the inventor says it won't do inside
of two years. no matter how much used
The wooden rim, also invented by Mr.
Collins, is marvel of construction. 1t
consists of three kinds of wood. in three
sections, so splicad together that you
cannot tell where the said pieces are
Joined. Mr.. Collins takes one of these
rims without any wire stringing to them.
and asks two persons to throw their full