The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
NOVELTIES FOR WHEELMEN.
All Sorts of New Ideas in Bicycle At
tachments.

tachments.
Philadelphia Record.
great many novelties in bicycles. and
attachments for wheels are being placec
While the long-heralded chainless wheel has
at last arrived, beyond a doubt many
prominent makers will still continue 10 oe-
vote their attention exclusively to chain
wheels, and make their improvements In
other directions. AT the great Stanley cycle
show, in London. just closed, all the proml-
nent manufacturers, foreign and American,
exhibited their 50 models and accessories,
and many interesting features were SHOWN.
Most of the chainless wheels shown are
driven by beveled cogwheel gears, PIT one
well-known English firm has developed
machine driven by cords or cables ana q
clutch action. A large proportion of the
new chains are Of very short pitch roller
or twin roller, but the block chain still con
tinucs to hold its place. One or TWO cnalns,
in which every link is detachable, are also
on the market, but it Is doubtful II they
will possess great advantages over ordinary
forms.
In regard to the frame of wheels there is
very little change from last year Among
the innovations are the open-back tandem,
built on the cantilever principle, and the
single machine with the additional strut for
the use of particularly heavy rlcers merits
attention. In another frame OF very curious
design the top tube is reduced almost 10
nothing and the head brought SO near the
rider that the handlebar has to be carried
W. l. for " al d. inst al of backward, as usual
What may, perhaps prove to be reVoiu-
ton in cycle building is to be found In the
new bralzeless-join machines. when are ca,
pable of being taken apart ana packed
away for storage. or for easy transpoTta-
ton. 1t is asserted that they can readily
be put together In half an hour ana are
as strong mechanically as any brazed-Jolnt
machine. The field for military cycling
opened up by this machine IS very extern
siye and the design has received unquall-
fed praise in military circles. The reVolu-
ton in cycle building, of which this may
be the forerunner lies, however; in an
other direction. namely, the use OF alumni
iur for the framework. The great obstacle
to the use of this material has been that II
cannot readily be braiZed, and consequently
1t has been debarred from use despite It's
advantages of hGhtness, combined with
great strength.
Many new brakes are to be marketed,
some acting on the front wheel and some
on the back, but there is evidently a dis
position to fit back wheel brakes If 1t can
be conveniently done An innovation IN TINS
line provides for the transmission OF the
power along the frame by small pulleys
and the brake is applied by turn Of the
handles and kept until the rider releases
It, Instead of acting on the tread OF the
tire the friction in this design is applied
to the side of the rim of the rear wheel.
Probably the most striking invention in
hubs developed for the new models is one
in which the cone revoveS instead or the
cup. Hitherto it has been usual TO con.
struct hubs with the cone fixed on the axle
and the cup carried around with the huD.
The new design, however, affords larg-
er wearing surface than the oldi II the cone
is fixed the pulling of the chain causes II
to wear more on one side than the other,
but if the cup is fixed, although to some
extent the same thing happens, the uneven
ness of the wear will be less perceptible,
owing to the larger wearing surface.
The slumber- disturbing rattle of the milk
mans horses and wagon at unearthly hours
may be a thing of the past If they will
but follow a London fashion of delivering
with the aid of a bicycle carrier. All kinds
of goods are now delivered by these ma
chimes, and they possess equal advantages
for milk delivery, allowing the route TO
be covered in much shorter time and more
oI,o ny 10 nT0Xidp6 r.
rying, besides the large can, the necessary
small hand cans. while compact butter
box that is detachable completes the equip
ment. The tricycle. IS equipped with pnen-
matte tires, ball bearings, etc, and only
weighs sixty pounds with its patton s dnd
cages 1t can also be pushed about in the
manner of a hand cart where that is desir-
able.
go out sometimes, probably in the most
exposed situations too, when to rellght is
very troublesome and annoying. Provided
with new patent lamp lighter, however Sr
this is a comparatively easy matter. The
device consists of a small one-quarter inch
tube, one inch long, the upper side of which
is cut away for portion of it's length, and
containing a fiat spiral spring. In using
the igniting end of the match is inserted
in the tube. and. forcing 1t through with
the thumb brings il into contact with the
spring in the other end of the tube there
by striking it, This is done inside the lamp
and the burning match applied to the WICK,
so that, no matter how strong the wind
may be. 1t is easy TO light up
The feature of the waning cycling year
in Paris has proved to be the introduction
of acetylene lamps, which are now used
in large number, and according to recent
advices all the young Parisians who wish
to be considered lin the SWIM" as the
Americans would say, are using acetylene
lamps. These consist of two paris, a cyl
Under for containing the charge of calcium
carbide. and the lamp. the two being con-
nected by thin rubber tube The lamp,
which consists of burner, reflector and
lens is fixed to the head of the machine in
the usual position, while the reservoir or
cylinder which has the appearance of
hand pump. is attached to tine diagonal
tube OF the machine. or the cross bar. The
cylinder is composed of a nest of three
brass tubes The carbine of calcium, from
which the gas is generated is broken into
small pieces and placed in the inner OF
these tubes, water Is added. and In a few
minutes the acetylene gas IS generated ana
escapes to the outer cylinder. where Ii is
stored and fed, and from which II IS fed 10
the lamp Provision is made so that the
pressure cannot become too great These