The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14

though all of them are trying to keep close
TO the shore. having in mind the effect on
several manufacturers last year of an ef-
fort to supply all the wheels that we're used
in the country. This effort resulted in sew
eral failures during the fall, principally on
account of the inability of the manufac-
turerS TO realize on their large stocks of
manufactured goods, which could have no
sale at remunerative prices until this
spring. very small per cent of the
failures last fall was due To other causes.
This year the manufacturers are moving
more cautiously as rule and are endeavor-
ing to know. as nearly as is possible to know
it, just what the demand will be before
they build large stock of wheels. AS the
cost of labor is a very large item in the
manufacture of bicycles and must be paid
in cash at the end Of every week or two
weeks. it is quite evident that any con-
siderable number Of unsold wheels means
large outlay of ready cash. However, even
If the stock Of wheels is not sufficient to
meet the spring demands. it is not likely
that the same trouble will be experienced
this years as last for now there is a much
larger stock Of tubing in the country which
can soon be converted into finished bicycles.
while last year the factories that did not
idNc tuDiHS SedSOn DOuSnI
before this time, were compelled to turn
off many orders because tubing could not
be had. The same is probably true of tires.
for each year there comes a demand for
tires for old wheels that makes it necessary
to carry larger stocks on hand at ali points.
THIS YEARS PRICES.
There is already indication that wheels
will be sold cheaper this year than before
although some wheels have been advanced
over last years prices There seems to be
a tendency to make some wheels of the
very best material that can be found and
sell them for high prce-not necessarily
too high. but price that Will insure the
purchaser that he has a first-class wheel
and at the same time give the nanufac-
turer profit proportiorately large. While
some people look upon 800 for bicycle
now as too high, there are many people
who can testify from experience that when
they purchased the best wheel they could
find and paid a good price for 1T, even al
lowing the manufacturer a large per cent
of profit, they got the worth of their money
in the saving of many little annoyances
that result from having wheel that is
made we'll and of good material. but not of
the best that can be obtained In the one
matter of bearings this has often proved
true. 1t is not to be expected that the
bearings of a fifty-dollar wheel will be
made of steel that costs twice as much as
what is termed really good steel can be
bought for, while the wheel that sells for
500 should contain the best steel that mon
ey can buy. and usually does. The cheap
er grade of steel will wear rough with the
least unevenness of the balls when n
small grain of sand gets into the bearing.
while the finer steel will not wear under
such circumstances. or. if it does it will
wear evenly and thus not have the rough
bearing that would be found in the cheap
wheel under such circumstances. While
this rough bearing seems like a little thing
ii adds probably Is per cent. in the demand
for power necessary to propel the wheel,
and the rider wonders why his wheel does
not run as easily as that of a friend which
he had tried few days before.
There will also be cheaper wheels sold
and 1t seems now that large number of
the manufacturers have found it advan-
tageous to offer a wheel finished as we'll as
the best and on which the workmanship is
frst-class. but In which more easily made
parts are used. and which is made of cheap
er material. These wheels are good of their
kind. and will serve the purpose fairly We'll.
but where the buyer can afford IL the expe-
rience of old riders and the statements OF
| mechanics would indicate that wheel on
which the manufacturer is enabled to make
a good profit at high price is the cheapest
and best in the end.
Several local dealers and manufacturers
are carrying large stocks of last years
wheels. which very good. and well
worth the money asked, but business de-
mands that they he sold as closely as posi-
| BILE before the regular season opens for the
sale of the 1897 wheels. and on that account
| many wheels of last years model are being
| sold now at a reduction of 20 TO 80 per cent
| on last years prices. These are all good
| wheels, being new stock left from last year
but the dealers do not want them on hand
| when. the new stock is placed on the mar
ket. and are using every effort to get rid of
| them.
THE 1897 MODELS
The 1897 models present probably the
| greatest advance in the art of making BIZ
| cycles of any single season. although this
| advance shows less TO the general observ-
| er than the changes made last year and
| the year before All efforts seem to have
been devoted TO improving the bearings this
year and they now seem to be almost per-
| feet. There will be few wheels that will
now have cones that confne the balls in
such way that when the bearing is TAX
| en- apart the balls do not drop out. Those
who have hunted half hour in the
| grass by the roadside for lost ball when
an accident made IL necessary TO remove
a bearing can readily appreciate this. The
bearings are also nearer dust proof than
| heretofore and the material that is being
| put in them Is of a grade that is far su-
| perior to that used in the past. II has
| taken experience TO determine just how
| hard and what particular kind of stee.
| makes the best bearings. The improve
nents this year show very little on the
outside of a wheel. for the general lines
ire practically the same last year. but
he rider Will know the improvements by
he exertion necessary TO handle his wheel
1t was thought last year that the spasm
II inventors for turning out freaks" would
| pass away before this season. but 1t seem.
| to have returned with renewed force. Their.
are already out many wheels that are so