The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-26

twenty-five toothed sprocket wheel and
seven toothed hub ring. The sun
| and planet wheels merely control the
relative position of the main and sec
Cndary cranks. The mechanism con-
sists of a sun wheel rigidly and cor
centrically attached to each side Of
the crank bracket and a pair of hollow
cranks.
One-half of each crank encloses a sun
wheel and the outer half enclOses a
planet wheel of the same size as the
wheel and engaging directly Herewith
Each pedal is screwed into a planet
wheel at a point midway between its
center and the pitch line of its teeth.
Each crank has half the spindle attach
ed to it. This spindle is hollow and
as each half is cut to the skew and
they are brought together in a bearing
sleeve by means of a hollow tie bolt,
provided with conical lock nut, the
two halves form a well supported scarf
ed spindle. Keys and cotters are dis
pensed with and an unusually wide
crank bracket bearing is provided, the
ball races being more than four and
one-half inches apart. The chain line
is brought within the bearings, while
the overhang Of cranks and pedals is
considerably reduced.
The planet wheel bearings, each con-
and one-half inches in diameter and
the pedal pin makes it's circuit within
this ball race. All the bearings are
cup adjusted and are provided with
simple and efficient looking devices. On
roadster machines dust caps are fitted
to the inner faces of the cranks so that
the sun and planet wheels are entirely
cased in. Should it become necessary
to remove the pedals, castings, cranks,
or planet wheels. the nuts and screws
are easily acceptable.
The foot motion is but slightly differ
ent from the circular motion now IN
vogue and Is by no means unpleasant.
These compound cranks add somewhat
to the weight of bicycle, but the in
ventor claims that the power gained
more than compensates for the added
weight. This ingenious mechanism is
about to be fitted to a number Of rae
ing machines, and the results Of the
trial will be awaited with interest
In saying that he believes his inVen-
ton will revolutionize wheeling, Mr..
Barker knows what he is talking
about. If his crank will really do all
that is claimed and utilize the entire
leg power of the rider, there would
seem no possible reason why a cyclisG
should not attain a speed of a mile
minute without any tremendous eXer-
ton. The influence that this will have
upon the professional bicycle racing
world is simply tremendous. 1t is con-
sidered more than likely, for instance,
that if the compound crank achieves
thorough success, some genius, if not
it's inventor, will plan out a scheme
to make it chainleSS.
The chainleSS bicycle is, adviceS from
the United States say, to our own
dealers, the wheel of 1898. It is speedier,
less costly in the long run and more
durable Now combine with this the
utilization Of the entire leg power Of a
rider aud it seems to most persons
who understand the bicycle that pcs
sibility is created which is almost
linitless 1t means in other words that
a machine is in sight which will last
q tremendous length of time, be so
strong as to be almost without danger
OF injury, except through collision, and
be capable of a degree of speed which
only a short time ago seemed among
the impossibilities. This is why Eng
land is so thoroughly and completely
interested in the new invention, and
it is not too much to say that it Will
not be the fault of the Englishmen if
an American mind gets ahead of theirs
iii perfecting the combination referred
to.
Another point which is being consid-
cred is that the chainless wheel and
the compound crank wheel ought to be
combined and sold at not over $50. 1t
must be understood that in Judging
prices of bicycles on this side of the
water. we figure on different basis of
calculation. In the first place the Eng
lish and the French wheels are very
much cheaper than those made in the
United States, using United States
prices as a standard of comparison.
The very best bicycle made in Eng
land can be purchased for $50, and
most persons consider that exorbitant,