The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-02-04
NEWS OF THE WHEEL
Gossip About the 1897 ModeIs--very Few
Chainless Wheels.

Gossip About the 1877 Moueis--Nery reW
ChainIess Wheels.
In the new models for 1897 it Is es-
pecially noticeable that great strides
toward higher artistic perfection have
been made, and have, however, been
made In most cases with distinct gain
to mechanical simplicity and strength.
The energies of the manufacturers
have been concentrated on making this
years bicycle thoroughly pleasing to
a fastidious taste, and easy to keep in
good order. 1t has been their aim to re-
move from the appearance of the
wheel the last vestiges of the ma
chine shop, and they have thoroughly
succeeded.
Not only are the frames better
Joined and more richly and smoothly
enameled; wheel rims, spokes and
spoke fastenings. handle bars. clips
and adjustments, name plates, sprocket
wheels, are all, as rule, Of more
pleasing lines than formerly. In re-
gard to accessories, such as saddles.
lamps, brakes, cyclometers, mud and
skirt guards, etc. there is an ample
selection Of new patterns in regard to
which the same holds true.
While this is so as applied to the
most expensive grades. there is even
more progress, relatively speaking, no.
tceable in the best medium grades.
There was much room in these for me-
chanical improvements derived from
30 I, In, Y,,Dt tfns n
turing, and the makers have taken care
to add to them also all the features Of
refined appearance which do not con-
dict with economical production.
Considerable improvement in lamps
is promised for this year. There are
any number Of patterns in the market,
all warranted serviceable. and all far
removed from the clumsy lantern of
early days. One of them closes like a
watch A chief feature seems to be
larger lenses and rejecting surfaces,
one being modelled after a locomotive
headlight. Another is arranged as n
bracket, to be attached to any part of
the wheel. Little progress has been
made with electric lighting, for which
30 much was predicted.
Intense interest has been aroused
among bicyclists by reports that a
number of leading makers were pre-
pairing to put chainless wheels on the
market. A considerable number of
such wheels were shown recently at
the Stanley Cycle Show in London.
Some of these were clearly crank pro-
1uctions which could never gain a foot
bold in actual use, while most of
them were of the bevel gear variety.
1t seems safe to say now that the
American wheel makers, with but one
of two exceptions will devote them
selves, for the coming year, at least. to
making as good wheels as they know
how to make ON the old lines, and that
those who are about to put out chain
ness wheels will make the experiment
very cautiously.
Besides the Howard bevel gear Wheel
which was introduced about year
1So, there is not single chainless
wheel now known in the trade, and not
one Is announced officially as forth.
coming by any established maker. II
has been known, however, that for q
long time the Pope Manufacturing
Company, the makers of the Columbia
and Hartford wheels, have been get
ting ready to make n chainless wheel
md that the Spaldings also had takel
aut a license TO manufacture under
the same general patents. 1t is now
understood that the Spaldings will not
ae able to put chainless wheel on the
market this year, and that the Pope
Manufacturing Company has notified
It's agents that the production of chain
aess wheels will be very small this sea
son.