The evening times., 1897-07-01
BIKES At YOUR OWN PRICE
The Pope Company's Big Cut
Portends Cheaper Wheels.
WHAT LOCAL DEALERS SAY
A General Reduction in High-Grade
Machines Reasons Adj
vapeed by the Columbia People
for the Cut and the Views Of
Others Cost Estimates.

"Tbe important announcement OF the
Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford,
Conn. that the price of its 1897 Columbia
bicycles would be reduced to SIS each On
July L 1897, VIII prove boon to cyclists.
anG viii undoubtedly create coIrmotion
in the trade. With 1897 Columbias at
$T5, 1896 Columbias at $50 and Hart
fords at $50, $40 and $40, every rider
may have high-grade mount at u price
tinguisi.ed bicycles
The issuance of the above circular by the
Pope Manufacturing Company has caused
considerable excitement in Washington
cycling circles. Many contend that the
cut is made too late n the season TO Gre
ate serious disturbance, but the neral
consensus of opinion IS to the effect that
the day of the 500 bicycle is over; that
the cut VIII he met all along the line,
end that the present cheap wheels will be
practically driven from the market.
Various theories are advanced as to the
cause OF the slump, but those in a position
to judge state that i5 Is due in a great
measure to the auction sa les OF she 1896
model. which differed bat little from that
OF 1897 Many OF these wheels were sold
with an understanding that they were To
be exported, but the purchasers failed to
keep faith, and in many instances they
were auctioned off at prices which ran as
low as S33 for machines that could not
be had for double or even triple that price
at the agency OF the manufacturers
1t is intimated by the Columbia people
that they will have a chainless bicycle
on the market next season, and this is
given as one of the explanations OF re-
ductions in price of the present styles OF
wheels
Manager J. Hart Britain, OF the Co
lumbia agency, was seen at his office
yesterday, and referring to the effect OF
the cut on prices of other wheels, said:
.While 1 don't believe that we control
the market, with our wheel selling at
SIS, 1 don't think than any other manu-
facturer CAT get more. AS a matter or
fact, very few S100 wheels have been
selling for 81 90. Discounts have been
mad. for cash, and in many cases second
hand heels have been taken in part
payment, and absurdly high prices al
lowed for same, in order to make sale.
Now, the Columbia has never sCid for
| less than S1o0 before. A club of seven
people offered me ST2O cash for eight
wLcels. and l declined Ny terms we're
SIGO cash, S1o5 on time l think this
reduction Will drive the cheap wheels
out Of the market to some extent"
| Referring 10 the purchasers of wheels
/ rYh have nj U hsaaD OF
1n time, Mr.. Britain said:
| ~ anticipate some trouble with some
| OF these purchasers, who may think IN y
| are entitled to reduction, but nn re-
duction whatever viii be made in such
cases. Those wheels were purchased at
their then market value, and the fact thai
| notes Were taken for payment OF cost was
simply an accommodation on our part -
Mr. william I Robertson agent for the
Rambler, was asked WI he thought OF
the reduction
Just this he answered, that they
have not been selling as fast as they
would. Our people made their reduction
to $50 at the proper time, and 1 know
they win hold 10 that price l think that
! other high grade wheels viii follow the
Columbia i'll few days, and the cut is
| Douiiu Co nave more or less effect on the
low grade Wheels
The Fowler" said Mr.. W J. Espey
| who manages the branch house in Wash
ington, will be reduced, but to what
| puce l do not yet know
Referring TO the estimated cost of &
high-gTade wheel, Mr.. Espey said that
such wheels were made for less than
S3O.31
The manager OF the Sterling agency wa,
not in when The Times man called, bat
it was stated there that it was thought
that the Sterling would not be reduced
in price.
''we 10 not propose to meet the cut,
said Mr.. j. d Laslay. manager of thC
Eclipse branch in this city. We VIII fight
it out this season at our present rates
though next year we will sell wheel FOL
$50 which will be as fine as can possibly
be made.''
AT the Barnes White Flyer office Man
ager DCbbius said that no reduction would
be made in the price ofthe Syracuse wheel
owing to the cut made by the Columbia
people. The same held good with the Dia
mond and other wheels handled by him