The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-06


Than for Years--Rango of Prices.
From the New York Sun.
A greater variety in bicycles will be
offered next year than has been IN
case in four or FIVE years. Less :han
fifteen makers have arranged at pres
ent to make a bevel gear ur chainles7
bicycle, while all the otEers have been
working with different ideas Cf how II
produce and successfully marEet
wheel to compete with this rev ma
chine, the appearance of which mas
created so much talk. There are more
than two hundred manufacturers who
produce a well-kaown brand of bicycle
and will present something new, great
or small, for 1893.
The appearance of the Chainless
wheel has spurred every manufacturer
onward, and within g, couple of weeks
all the makers of prominence will have
samples of their 1898 models on exhibit
tion. The next thing to be noted is
that through a great diversity of pat
tern, both in the lines Of the wheels
themselves and their driving mechan-
ism, there is a pronounced tendency
toward the adoption of some form OF
protection for the gearing. There Will
he several varieties of chainless wheels
on the market, and probably not few
which will be classed as freaks" All
of these will have their driving mech
anism inclosed, but further it is found
that those makers who will put out
chain wheels will almost universally
adopt a gear case, and offer it either
as a regular model with inclOsed chain,
or else will offer some kind of chain
case on option at extra charge, and
recommend it's use. Thus the advent
of the beVel gear wheel promises to
accomplish a complete conversion of
the American mind to the idea of en-
cased gearing, which has for years
been accepted across the ocean, There
will, however, be a marked difference
between the American gear case and
the English type hitherto known as be-
ing unsatisfactory. This seems to
mean that the gear case has had to
come to America to find it's perfect eX-
preston.
ENCLOSED CHAINS.
A wheel which will figure most prom
inently as a new model next year will
be one with gear case, or Enclosed
chain" as some makers intend calling
it. Considering that the gear case is
not new device, this situation is at
first somewhat surprising. The gist of
the matter lies, however, in the fact
that number of manufacturers have
been at work on the Improvement of
gear cases, and claim to have attained
perfection. The leather, cenuloid, and
metal cases which have been brought
from England have been far from sat
isfactory, because of their being
heavy, unsightly, and, above all, fail
ing to thoroughly exclude dust and
water Yankee ingenuity has intro
duced aluminium alloys and light steel
with rubber for joints, so that it seems
unquestionable that the American gear
case of today is an article far super
ior to its English cousin.
During the past year the American
type of case has been gaining in favor
through trials by century riders, mill
tary men, and other long-distance cy-
clists. Starting with the promise that
perfect gear case is obtainable, the
advocates of inclosed chain wheels con-
tend that it gives all the advantages
claimed for bevel-gear wheels, plus
those of a flexible driving mechanism.
Besides the bevel gear and the in
closed chain or gear-case models, there
are several new styles of driving gear
to be offered for 1885, as we'll as num-
ber of plain chain wheels which will
look very much like the accepted type
of 1897 An Indiana manufacturer will
offer a combined cog and chain gear,
entirely inclosed, with crank of vari-
able throw, This machine will be put
out in large quantities. 1t consists of
an axle with spur teeth on the end of
it, which is revolved by means of teeth
on the inside of a gear ring that is
continuous with the crank. Thus when
the crank is on the downward thrust
the rear surface of the ring is in con-
tact with the axle cOgs and gives a
long leverage, while on the upward
throw the ring has revolved so that il
touches the axle in the rear at the end
of the crank and thus shOrtens its re-
turn throw. An ordinary sprocket is
stationary on the axle, and revolving
with it moves the chain, which travels
over rear sprocket the same as in ar
ordinary wheel. A reduction of lost
motion and the variable crank throw
are the chief virtues claimed for this
invention.
IMPROVED CHAIN AND SPROCKEI
Another concern will come out mex
year with an improved chain ant
sprocket driving gear, not inclosed
which 1t is claimed will be as indif
ferent to the attacks of mud and dir
as any housed gear The device will
consist of an improved roller sprocket
similar in appearance, but different il
detail, from one which has been OF
the market during this season. Tn,
sprocket has double rim with small
solid disks of steel, which each revolv,
on an individual axis, fixed at regula
intervals. The links of the chain il
passing over the sprockets engage Will
these rollers instead of with fixed teeth
as in the ordinary sprocket. The TO
tary action of these novel sprocke
teeth prevents any accumulation o
mud or dirt, so 1t is claimed, and unde
tests made with a dynamometer SOM
surprising results have been obtained
By applying brake to the rear whee