The sun., 1897-06-30
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
MANUFAOTURERS OUTING TINE
PRICES OF HIG He GRADE WHEELS.


A Leading Firm Takes the First step By Re-
ductng ol0O nlachines TO RTS-Rumoru OF
q General Movement In This Liue-Auction
Sales and Cheap Makes saia 20 NE the Cause
The great demand for medium.pricod bicycles
this year has convinced the leading manufac-
turers that II is impossible to maintain stand
ard price on 800 wheels. The Pope Manu-
featuring Company Of Hartford, who make the
Columbia bicycles, announced yesterday that
beginning with tomorrow their 500 bicycle
will be reduced to S75. This statement, coming
from one OF the oldest and most Representative
firms In this country implies that S75 will be the
prevailing price for the high grade chain bicycles
for the rest Of this season. News Of this reduc.
tion In prices has caused big sensation among
riders and tho trade.
The bicycle trade has been In . chaotic state
since carly in the spring. due to the widespread
practice Of price cutting among the local agents
throughout tho country. Several of the big
firms have made strong efforts to maintain q
standard prioe for their high-grado wheels, and
some few have succeeded admirably. Tho COM
petition with the makers Of good $50 and ST5
wheels has, however, reduced the sales OF tho
highest grade bicycles to such an extent that IL
has become manifest to the biggest Arms that a
reduction must be mado In order TO dispose Of
the '97 stock.
Tho sale Of bicycles throughout the country
this year has been large, but the demand for
800 wheels has fallen of, and the outlook as
sumed such Encouraging aspect that 1t Is ex-
poctod that firms in all sections will within tho
next ten days meet tho cut made In Columbia
bicycles. In the bicycle trade reduction Of
Tor some time. but it was not expected that tie Big
houses would make any reductions this season.
II m that four or
leading Wheel. The intsoduetion q tkis novelty.
must necessarily result in a reduction in tho
price Of Il, the chain BICYCLES but IT " was n, not
eject until tie cha chsinless Wheel was introduced
a1a S,is, listed at 800 late in the V,n fall
AZ WsreS S
Mason verified the report that the company has
attributes the REDUCTION to the desire 10 compete
With the hrms who are are selling bicycles St re.
Of wheels this season. and while In no wise suf-
fering from the price cutting in other houses,
houses BY selling at slightly reduced figure.
He compares tho bicycle Industry. with the his.
business Of tho former viii follow the progress Of
the lettcr; Rumors Of oyerproduction were
s6undSnt iast season and a It was expected that
this year In their outputs In order not to become
The action of the Columbia people is attributed
| By some to desire to clear out all their OF
stock n order W to prepare for big year mex. sea;
yestsrday that smother large firm with head:
q feM days reducing their 'o7 $l0O models to
day declared that ihey. could not say
to Nss YORK
big Chicago hrm who have succeeded In main.
m
| hrm would reduce their wheels from 800 to
Q71, He claims that they have sold almost their
posing Of tho balance OF their stock at their list
The impression prevails that a general reduo.
tion 10 now imminent. Such step. however.
| can only be developed after the various firms
and says the policy Of fol
Reports have been circulated that a number
this year due to being unable TO dispose OF
enough of their output to meet outstanding OBJ,
| A man closely identified with tho trade made
the following announcement to THE Sun re-
Tho announcement Of the Pope Manufactur.
on their 1881 wheels to $40 hardly, came as a
patsd in trade % Circles. There % is no % doubt that
this action Of the Pope Company has been largely
In IN this &C city and the the general wholesale
quitting of prices throughout tho country. It has
been an open % secret for weeks past that almSs: T
manufacturers of high grado wheels have en-.
deayored TO maintain list prices as announced
but the growing competition of the dry goods
stores and the great public demand for bicycle
the step Just announced by tho Pope company
VIII be. sSa cannot BE- ssstsS at pPes
sible exceptions. all will follow in reducing their
iSt Price This step may sSs DO % regarded az as an In
undoubtedly be to eventually kiii of the various
auction sales and dry goods business, as the
de P%ah the reputable
than buy wheels sold under another name at q
fancy price. There is no doubt that this action
| will very seriously affect the American businesi
in foreign countries, moro especially in England
| whore the demand Is for high.grade wheels
WHICH the public are willing to pay good prict
It is rumored on good authority that n ext yeal
sc9n of the on o Sn Roa19 OF rads
served as an indox as TO whether the guarante,
agent Cyclists generally have not hesitated te
accept the six months guarantee, and the lead
Ing manufacturers now think tho time Is ripe t'
a meeting q the Executive Committee of thu
DOUBT The Whole 81 Situation @ viii be- earefny
gone over and interesting developments are OK
peoted. but whether they will be made public
pected that the Executive Committee will con
suit with representatives OF the bicycle tr,
manufacturers In relation to abolishing tn,
guarantee on both bicycles and tires
There 10 q general feeling that in the nea
future $50 viii be the standard price Of tn,
leading chain wheels. Inquiry at the Offices o
A. @. Spalding & Brothers Of this city, tho man
ufaoturers OF the Spalding bicycle. failed T.
secure any Information In relation to this firm
reducing their 500 wheel to S75. In the nh
Henoe OF the heads OF the firm no one felt at lib
orty to discuss the question.
Renting the britannia.