The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08
TOLD WITHOUT WORDS.

resource. Perambulator wheels are rare.y
of the right size, and when You are making
a bicycle anyhow, 1t IS well TO make it on
correct principles Ny advice is 10 use
only the two hubs of the peranibuiator
wheels, which answer the purpose very
nicely. For spokes / take the ribs or
borrowed umbrella. ! know that some am
ateurs use the ribs of any old umbrella,
but ! always prefer a borrowed
one for that purpose, Il being
less recognizable by the owner As bicycle
spokes than In .ts original shape. Be
sides this borrowed umbrella is cheaper
than any other kind in the market. and
am endeavoring TO show how TO construct
an economical bicycle Therefore, these
apparently trivial points must not be lost
sight Of
For a rim an iron hoop from barrel
does as well as anything else unless You
are strict temperance man. Heat the
barrel hoop red-hot. and then gently bend
Ii into a coneave shape with the fingers.
Should the amateur find difficulty in
doing this. he may either wear gloves or
take lesson from one OF Barnums fire.
eaters Many people have burned their
fingers In cycle construction during the
last two or three years. but he method
have outlined above VIII be found cheaper
than investing in cycle stock. While the
iron is soft and hot perez a number OF
holes In II with the point OF the small
blade OF your knife Insert into these
holes the ends Of the umbrella ribs and
you Will find that when the iron eools IL
viii contract and hold the ends Of the
ribs firmly In position
The time has row come fer inserting the
hub. This must be very carefully done
because If 1t IL not truly In the center
trouble VIII ensue. know OF nothing
more annoying than riding wheels the
hsExh.. - .fAts f.
center This defect wobhles the rider up
and down In a most embarrassing way,
and all the pneumatic tires in the world
will not take up the consequent vibration.
Spectators. seeing a man on wheel OF
this sort, are apt to jump at the conclusion
that II Ia homemade machine. so IL Is
better TO take a little extra trouble and de-
vote a little more time 10 the task ard
turn out a wheel that IS papahiy of the
highest grade The wheels being finished
there IL nothing moro 10 do but 10 attach
them TO the frame which by this time will
be dry and rigid II 1; has been kept out
Of a damp place. There is little diTtcllffy
about the pedals: they may be made new
or the handle OF a mangle or a grind
stone. or OF rotary pump Will be found
extremely serviceah.e It IS not advisable
for the amateur 20 forge his own chain
j. is much siEnfler to forge check, II
enc Is q reasonably good penmaa. and APP
ply the proceeds 10 tha purchase Of
good chain, cut the correct length, from
a hardware dealer. II must he dis;lnctiy
understood tina; do not counsel the forg-
Ing Of a check IN order 10 secure chain
- that might lead the hscyclist into a
chain gang r not very carefully done
am merely stating the Different methods
q procedure without standing sponsor for
AIRY OF them.
We now come 20 the question oe the
tire, think everyone will admit that the
pneumatic tire excels all others Measure
the circumference % the rim. shsn cat of
the exact length from a piece % rubber
garden hose II YOU do cot tsss garden
hose - sprinkle your lawn yoa nay per-
haYss tnd a piece OF faa required length IN
neighbours garden. II IS hardly neces-
sary 70 point out tina: some care must bs