New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-18
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
THE MANUFACTURERS AND THE
SHOWS
LESSONS LEARNED BY A wEIL-KNowN MAKER
FROM THE RECENT EXHrBIrIoNs-THE
SUNDAY RACING DECISION UNLIKELY
TO CAUSE DIssENsIoN-THE
CYCLISTS FEDERATION
ORGANIZED.

the Board OF Trade or cycle Manulacturers, "h'h
seen yesterday. had this to sag regarding the
prospects for the year In the cycling industry:
THE many shows held by the National Board OF
Trade OF Cycle Manufacturers are Trustworthy IN
dex Of the bicycle industry. Those held In Chicago
and New-York. which have just been brought TO
close, reflect more than any of their predecessors
the economic Importance OF this business. which has
now grown to such vast proportions. Few, even OF
the most careful observers. appreciate the place
II has obtained for itself in the ranks OF Industrial
enterprises careful survey Of the exhibits at the
New-York show disclosed many interesting facts.
First, that the bicycle itself has , reached sss sGa,
standard Of design In appearance. shape, weight
proportion Of parts and the principles OF steering,
propulsion and weight FRYING that seems 10 nave
put it beyond the danger OF Innovation and unrlpe
experimentation. which have always been more or
less n threat against the stability OF the industry
This fact has been brought out By the almost total
absence OF freaks OF construction at the SHOWS i
There has usually been Struggling army OF tnes e
hanging upon the outskirts OF the business, ana
though they have never made any inroads INTO Inc
ranks OF the makers who hold TO the standard aa ira
forms of construction, yet their presence mas az
ways been heretofore looked upon as exempiilyihis
the possibility Of radical changes and consequently
affecting the stability Of the trade In the minds OF
investors Their absence this year Is very en-
couraging sign.
Another thing tina, has added to the stability of
the business Is the unquestioned admission or the
bicycle 10 the list OF everyday necessities us
largest duty is not contributor to sport and
day life Furnishing /, does the most concrete
form of individual rapid transit. 1t has become in
dispen It's devotees who are found In every
walk life The bicycle few years ago used 10 be sou
10 the youth To-day some of the largest customers
are corporations and Governments who buy them for
their messengers inspectors. polio emer and letter
carriers This has contributed TO the tone OF the
trade. Supply and demand are no longer problem
atical but can now be calculated with as reason
able a certainty as any other OF the stable indus
tries. The cycle SHOW mas no" pecoa 1 no, 80
nuLiic II is now busy mart where
for few short days the business OF the year y.
together ALI the representative manufacturers NOT
only OF bicycles but Of all the constituent parts or
materials that go into their makeup-the JoDbers.
the retailers and large and influential element OF
the buying public 1t is the one place ef ana ma co me
ing seasons possibilities can BE- made
The one point In which the prophets Of the trade
are unanimous is that the reaction from last years
overproduction will result in shortage or wheels.
and the immediate result of this has been very
general stireni1g Of prices D.nand-wh!ch In the
face of the unusra! depression in all lines or bnsi-
ness in the last TWO years has grown ehor-
mousy-t H. expected will be larger this year thtn
before. and principally for machines OF the
better quality. The enormous increase In the num-
Der of factories and the amount Of capital now de-
voted 70 IA. manufacture OF bicycles have naturally
resulted in a competition of unusual keenness' and
the fact that. Notwithstanding this there Is ZEN
dency 10 advance prices seems to snow tnat fur-
Their reduction in the price OF bicycles Is not TO BE-
looked for me nd hrnyb oegh of
that have marked the history OF every inIustria'
tioral Board Of Trade Of cycle Manufacturers was
the first step In this direction The ASSOCIATION OF
has been formed what perhaps will prove to be the
powerful organization of all-that Is the COAL
had its inception at the Chicago and its completion
at the New-York show.
I.a imeD "A Y
the manufacturers TO do away with the Nationa
shows under the auspices OF their own BOARD of
Trade it is very likely thai In the future these
shows will pa rtake more Of local nature designed
more particularly to bring the retail seller and the
rider together the opening OF the riding season
In the Administered ton OF these shows in the future
therefore Z IL fair TO assume that the retail trade
twenty OF these local exhibitions are being held this
year ana next year II Is expected tnh h nos
OF these two powerful organizations the National
Board OF Trade of Cycle Manufacturers and the Re-
tail Cycle Dealers National Association
No serious discussion secession is expected BY
we,l-informed League officials TO arise In the far
West or South from the refusal of the National AS
sembly to grant local option in the matter OF sun
day racing From various quarters OF these sec
tons Of the country have come the threats and tea
not tempests that expected 10 follow this neg
alive action. II is pretty sure. however that they
come mainly from money grabbing rack-owners
and hot headed racing men, and from this source
the thre Is OF rebellion and probabilities OF roub"
are most likely exaggerated Even looking at the
probern from the point OF view these classes take.
II cannot even be said that Sunday racing has been
or would be proved pecuniary success: The great
mass of League members, not directly Interested IN
and the detection of the few Sou,nern and far
Western racing men. should it ever occur; could In
no wise affect the membership prosperity OF the
League az large NOR mos session e Is out of the
ma
ures Of racing dependent largely on the support
Sos ihe to League law and would not allow the
big fellows they employ to take part IN uns af
could be supported.
A permanent organization effected at meet
ing Of the Associated Cycling Clubs OF New-iork at
the Hotel Bartholdi on Tuesday night The officers
elected were as follows: G. F. Smms, jr. presi-
dent; James o Neill vice-president: W. II. Klinker
| recording secretary Joseph Oatman, corresponding
secretary NJ D. Friedenrich. treasurer. The Elk
! ecutivc Committee is follows: John Frick. Nor
! ris Wheelmen; r. Gerbereux Riverside Wheelmen
f. j. Ester Triumph Wheclmen; ". C. Kelly
m mn!e Mason II' Manhattan Bicycle Club 1t is
proposed to affiliate with the associations in Vest
Inrsev he four to he known as the Metropolitan
| Association of Cycling Clubs.
Park Commissioner Det'mer, OF Brooklyn. Is con-
sidering the best plan to be pursued to have new
| surface put OH the old cycle path from Prospect
! Park TO Ccney Island.
Cyclists desiring to join the League Of American
| Wheelr1en may obtain full printed information and
! membership blanks by sending names and ad-
dresses to the Cycling Editor, Tribune.
| ENTRIES FOR THE DOG SHOW.
The Westminster Kennel Clubs twenty-hrst an
| nual bench show will begin at the Madison Square
| Garden on Monday. Washington's Birthday. and
will continue all the week. The entries for the
show number 1919 and few dogs are entered In
more than class this year. the number OF dogs
exhibited will he ll3s Prizes are 10 be awarded In