The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-25
MOST MARVELLOUS BICYCLE.
Draws TO 1t All Othtr Wheels Within a
Radius Of Fifteen Feet.
WAS INVENTED BY FRANZ STEUBEN.
The Originator an Eccentric German Me-
chanical Genius Whose Neighbors jest
About uim-stIiI uisIdea Commands
Attention-BeingC onstructed'

BERLIN, April 1.-THE latest and ad-
mittedly the most eccentric OF oicSC'e
IDEAS Is now being given practical form
in Stuttgart ny Franz Steuben, an inNen
tor whose cccentricity has caused ms
neighbors 70 heretofore make sport OF
| him. This strange idea is an electro
magnetic bicycle which Steuben claims
| viii DO POSSESSED OF magnetic power sur
ncient TO draw 10 Itself any other d.
cycle within radius OF fifteen Feet
Baron AIunchhausen himself could nave
conceived no more curious freak OF inc
| imagination than this seems 10 De- pu'
| at the same time the inventor - WORK
| ing away at it, and discusses il as uh
derstandingly. both from mechanical ana
electrical standpoints, as II ne were
| Siemens himself. and charged with genius
TO his finger tips. The attraction OF
gravitation. he says. IS no more certain
! than win be that OF his machine
This bicycle freak. for It hardly seems
anything else. Is a machine with a highly
charged magnetic frame Instead OF the
usual hollow steel tubing OF which the
ordinary bicycle frame Is constituted.
This electrical frame will be made OF soft
iron. closely wound with fine copper wire
Attached 10 the back Of the frame,
short distance from tho bottom. VIII be
a small. very powerful dynamo. Two
wires. electric feeders. connect the dyna-
mo with the copper wound frame. The
dynamo IS located over what IN the or
binary machine is tie small sprocket
wheel. attached TO the rear axle. In
stead Of this sprocket wheel. however.
there viii be large cog wheel firmly
attached 10 the axle
Just at the left Of the big coz wheel
s q smaller wheel which acts as a med
ium for the sprocket chain 20 pass over.
The cogs Of the larger wheel meet
and 1T into cogs OF small
er wheel directly above. the
latter fitting series OF cogs
I'm the dynamo placed over it. As the
rider causes the pedals Of the machine
to revolve, the sprocket chain communi-
Gates motion 10 the main cog wheel. This
OF course causes the smaller wheel just
above TO also revolve and this In turn
by meeting the coes OF the dynamo. puts
the delicate machinery within into opera
ton. and thus generates the electricity.
Tho dynamo IS not the least curious or
the features Of this machine II 10 does
what Steuhon claims IL win perform 10
may be. electricians say. the means OF
solution OF the storage battery problem
Electrical storage batteries for street
cars have long been considered very de-
sirable but heretofore they have proved
too expensive for practical use. II the
principle followed I'm this bicycle, how
ever. is really the correct one II seems
az if the process would mean the solu-
ton Of the cheapenlng problem. The
dynamo, although tiny I'm bulk. Steuben
gravely claims will be equal 70 an enor-
nous horse power, just how many he mas
not vet determined. He says. however
# viii be very powerful and that his
scheme for the generation Of electricity
will work 10 q charm.
you Sec" said Steuben TO tho writer.
"the faster the sprocket wheel revolves
the greater will be the amount Of cleo
tricity generated. This electricity pass
ing from the dynamo through the two
feed wires, IS carried 10 the wires which
are wound around the soft iron frame
work Of tho machine This connects the
frame and tie bicycle with tho powerful
oiectro-maguet and IT'S driving power or
attractivones5 win be felt by any piece
of steel within a radius OF fifteen feet.
] intend. in order 20 guard the rider OF
the machine thus magnetized from any
accident. through electrical shock. 20 i'm
sulate the saddle handle bars and ped
als.'
10 viii also be possible. according 70
Stcuben, TO lessen or increase the power
OF FlNEtllNNl dIliNfNlNlis Joy llttlr OF AAIr
speed which the rider chooses 10 develop
There viii also be attached 90 the ma
chine a contrvanCe Boy means OF which
no the desire of the rider. the electricity
with which the neiehbOring machine
might Doe attracted. may De directed to-
ward the earth. This win Doe the situa-
ton when the cyclist has no desire 20 be-
come q lodestone. At other times. for in-
stance ~ me meets q pretty bicycle girl
whom he may wish 90 know. he viii turn
the electrical current back so that the
machine will become. 90 an intents ard
purposes a huge magnet The wheel
which the young lady SIS riding viii then
II within the fifteen foot limit. he irrc-
sistiby drawn toward the young man
and the bicycle girl win find herself NOV
ing at quick meter toward q stranger
whose acquaintance She has never dream
ed OF making
The nature Of the electrical attraction
will be such that It's effect on other wheels
will not iniure them nor prevent the ride
ers thereof keeping their seats easily.
All that IL will DE necessary 90 DO Is for
those mounted on the wheels drawn to-
ward the irresistible force 20 refrain from
trying 10 become immovable objects. To
certainly offers a new field for bicycle
nirtations as no young woman could ho
flomou lot lDIlllNt fl hNiIAt-ilitAii''
under circumstances over which She had
no control
If the rider Of the ciectro-maguetic
wheel should take spin down Urter
don Linden. for instance with the cleo
trical current glancng out ON all sides
with full force. DE would be- followed hy
n procession of machines as eagerly as
the children once followed the Pied Piper
OF Hamlin long years ago. Steuhen claims
that the electrical attraction OF nis ma
chino will not bee of sufficient strength
10 cause other machines TO collide with
him. provided he exercises that slliu Of
which any whoelman should be possessed
IL is always the case when q piece OF
steel IS drawn TO a magnet that the con-
tact Of the two is sharp but Stoihon
claims TO have mastered a. principle.
which viii enable him 20 so construct
his machine as 10 avoid this danger.
The Inventor declares that within the
next month he will furnish a practical
demonstration that his invention is rot
tho chimerical affair most people seem
TO consider 10. but the result of a care
ful study Of electrical possibilities by
man with q brain.