Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-04-15
A PRACTICAL TEST.
Editorial Opinion of PrOmi-
nent Chicago Paper.
Unanimous Verdict iu Favor OF
the Lowell Diamond.

To thousands OF cyclists aud hundreds OF
dealers who are readers 90 this paper tue
above subject will NO doubt. br OF unusual
interest. II il. however, not the intention vl
this article 10 give q glowing description OF
the benefit TO bee derived from the use 81 tue
wheel; that question has been rahriuslNriN
settled, not only by the practically uuhnl-
nous voice Of the American people. but 10y the
whole OF the civilized world. IL T. III
tended. however. that the Information
herein contained shall, Ia keeping With
the general policy Of this paper.
be OF real practical value to each
reader. and especially TO those who anticipate
buying a bicycle. 10 the latter question
Of considerable importance To decide upon
l., Which Is the best bicycle. We appre-
ciate fully the grca; difficulties the prospec-
tive buyer finds in obtaining auuthlul ana
correct answer to that question. In the hrst
place. he himself j. not acquainted with the
relative merits Of the various wheels manu-
featured, and. therefore. cannot decide Tor
himself. Second, he cannot rely ON the opln-
ions Of other bicycle riders. rs they, like
himself may be ua'quaiutrd with tue iurr-
its of other wheels. or may be preludictd Ia
favor Of the one hc rides, or may nave "a SET
fish interest hy means ul commission from
a dealer or manufacturer. lhlrd. he cannot
take his choice by reading advertisements Of
printed matter OF manufacturers, since one
aud all believing they are right aud Justified
in saying 50. claim their respective make a.
the very best. A. only one can be best, all
tnrotherS are, OF course mistaken. Fourth. ue
cannot expect to have hsQuestion answered
by any cycling journal, because In so doing
such Journals would commit financial suicide,
since all the other manufacturers except the
oae given the first place a. the best would
Withdraw their advertising patronage, He
.s.,4rIl ,T rAPplyt from Slltl nlnpr
an opinion cOurhrd in the nOn-cOmmittal
terms, "such "A make of bicycle Is one OF the
best" As this answer would apply in turn
To perhaps all the wheels manufactured, II
the question were submitted sufficient
number of times to the large number OF
cycle publications, the Information thereby
obtained would be OF no benefit In
view OF such difficulties to correct
decision, this paper decided to make
thorough aud exhaustive investiga
ton. the result OF which would be u
definite and decided answer as to which
was the very best bicycle manufactured.
Va realize the responsibility Of making such
a decision, since We are aware our readers
Will accept it as final and worthy Of fullest
rrcdancc For tho benefit Of new readers
we state such faith On the part of our read
rrs is caused by their knowledge OF the in
variable method pursued by this paper BY
pendent and unbiased report upon any
article manufactured This method is
to examine closely through the avenue
of our editorial and reportOrlal stan
without the knowledge of any manufacturer
Interested, and further without making any
charge. accepting any gilt, or soliciting any
advertisement from any one whose wares we
pass upon This policy We are enabled to
pursue owing to the large profits from a
high subscription price and rated circulation
greater than any other paper OF its kind in
the West Our representatives. have, there
fore given close ami critical attention to
the claims Of all the leading makes of
wheels rs found in their catalogues, and as
presented by agents and Interested wheel
men. A. a result Of thorough and practi-
cal tests and examinations, the unanimous
verdict Of our reporters was in favor OF the
"LDvcll Diamond manufactured by the
John p. Lowell Arms Company Boston,
Massachusetts, and was based upon general
and symmetrical excellence in every part oil u
bicycle. coupled with correct and scientific
design. Space forbids the publication of the
details of the character of that investi-
gation. but we remark in passing that great
stress, was laid on the opinions of large
number of practical Workmcn who have eN-
amined the mechanical features of it, aud to
the Wcll-kuoWn preference given to it by
thousands of the best WheGlmcn in the
country: also, to the fact that the manufac-
turrrs of this wheel have reached the acme
Of perfection in the art Of bicycle building
and again. to its great and growing success
4, demunst rated hy the sales OF the same,
which promises to break the record before
the season ds.--Wrstern Review Of Com
merce, Chicago.