The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-03
WHY THEY DROPPED.
An Explanation of the Gut in the
Prices of Bicycles.

the price of the Columbia bycycle to S75
has been the sole topic of conversation in
the bicycle trade, as we'll as among the
numerous cycling enthusiasts. There
had been rumors of this cut in price for
some time, but most of the dealers and
agents believed that it would not be until
January 1, 1898. The Pope Manufacture.
ing Company was the pioneer in the bicy-
Gle manufacturing business In this coun.
try and is looked upon by many of the
other bicycle makers as the leader in all
things concerning wheels, and in many
lines its lead is followed. This company
was the first large firm co announce a re-
duction in price to 800 from the figures
at which standard bicycles had been sold,
and enough of the other makers followed
suit to make a general adoption of tho
$1CQ rate necessary.
From the beginning of the present sea-
son there had been general doubt rs to
whether the 800 list would be maintain
ed and the action of the Pope Company
in not reducing the price of its wheels
greatly aided in keeping the price up to
that figure. Competition has been very
keen, however, and as a result there has
been more or less general cutting of
prices, and there were but few of the 800
wheels that could not be had at u discount
for cash since the first of the year
Just what led to the cutting of the
price of Columbus is IL matter that is
open TO discussion. The Pope Manufac-
turing Conn any has made no announce.
ment other than that of the proposed re-
duction, and, as its local representatives
have had no explanation from headquar-
tiers, the reason is only surmised One
of the principal alleged reasons for the
cut is said to be the fact that the Pope
Company is about to bring out chain
less wheel, in which the principal efforts
of the firm will be concentrated. This
sort OF wheel has been experimental with
by other concerns without great success
The Pope Company is believed, however,
to have brought it almost to perfection.
Patents on the principal forms OF chain
less wheels have been purchased. improved
machinery for making all parts of the
wheel have been put in at an enormous
expense, and it is common talk in the
trade that in order to make room for the
output of this improved plant the price
has been reduced on the chain wheel.
Another reason assigned for the cut is
that the Pope Company, seeing the great
sale of low,priced wheels through auction
rooms, department stores, etc. has realized
that there is an enormous demand for
lower priced wheel, and determined to be
in advance of its competitors in meeting
this demand. Still another reason as
signed for the cut, emanating, however,
only from rivals of the Pope Company,
was that the latter had been caught with
an over production of their bicycles, and
had to unload at n reduced price.
The present action of the Pope Com.
pany may also be due somewhat to the
fact that, while 800 had been agreed on
as the price of wheels for this year, few
of the big..makers had stuck to- this price.
There was a demand for lower prices
staring them in the face. and this was
met in various ways. Many manufac.
turers brought out cheaper wheels under
other names; some used parts of last sea.
sons wheels in making up their stock,
and others again solu their own wheels
under other names, or, as it sometimes
happened, without any name at all:
The Pope Company itself brought out
and sold Il wheel at a lower price than the
Columbia, and in the past year or two
have done a very heavy business in SELL
ing them. Several other firms making
these medium priced wheels have grown
wealthy from the sale of their product,
and their wares are almost as heavily adj
vertised and AS well known as the 800
wheels.