New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-13
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE BOARD OF
TRADE THIS WEEK

TT, SESSION OF THE MAKERS WILL DETER
NINE WHAT SORT OF AN ORGANIZATION
WILL RE EFFECTED SOMETHING ABOUT
TANDEMs-NoTEs AND COMMENTS
FROM EVERYWHERE.
An important meeting OF the stockholders Of
the National Board of Trade of Cycle Manu-
tacturers will be held on Thursday in this city.
Many Of the manufacturers are in favor Of con-
,nung the present organization on slightly diff
ferent lines. while others are of the opinion that
better results be achieved by practical
disbandment OF the present body and reor-
ren,zation on materially different lines AS
some Of the strongest men in the trade advocate
the latter plan. It is possible that this scheme
may be adopted II is pretty generally recog-
nzed that an organization Of some sort Is need
cd In speaking Of the matter yesterday an OIL
cIal ~ the Board said: "As at present con-
Quoted the Board costs for maintenance about
SI1 0OO a year Now. this is rather expensive
when we consider that our membership is In the
reighborhood Of three hundred and our yearly
dues are only 81. OF course. with cycle show
held hv the Board enough and more could De
made to pay the expenses OF the Board ana u
have big surplus besides. In fact, there is
,or,v ~ money on hand at present to meet
obligation
sor,e time II the present organization should
be maintained. the yearly dues might be RAISED
10 saw $50 each. which would furnish more
than enough to pay all expenses sun, 'hihh
that the makers are disposed to conduct the al
<airs on a more economical basis than has been
the case for the last five years. | would not ne
surprised at the dissolution Of the present boaru
and a reorganization OF the manufacturers mo
a voluntary association. Such an organization
would be started under the laws OF New-Jersey
possibly. rather than under those or TINS state
As already referred to in these columns. tan
dem riding has not increased this year, as so
many people seem to think careful canvass
~ tho trade shows this statement to be true be-
vond shadow Of doubt. While many OF the
larger manufacturers continue to turn out tan
doms they are not featuring machines OF that
err. ana doubt has been expressed whether
they will ever do so again. a hrst-class tandem
costs considerable money to make ana put OH
tho market and the average purchaser desires
so many different options that there is ht'ie
nroHt left for the maker. 4 canvass OF the trade
has shown that there has been material de-
crease I'm the sale OF tardems during the year
while the increase in the sale of wheels 10
o.o,nen for the wear has been about 40 per cent.
The Increase in the sale Of mems single wheels
has been at the same time 20 per cent. Whlle
the large makers have not sold so many tan
dems small dealers have made for themselves
considerable business this year. II is estimated
that there are about fifty dealers and assemblers
IN this district who have made a regular bust
ness of turning out tandems to order during the
year. In this way the purchaser OF TANDEM
can have his machine made to suit his needs or
desires. and he can have any sort or equipment
that his fancy may dictate.
majority Of the English bicycle-makers will
adopt the system Of marking net prices in the
catalogues which they are about to issue Some
makers, when the crusade against the main
tenance Of the system first begun. leaped
at the opportunity 1t afforded. Others, more
conservative. circularized their agents asking
fo- opinions. and by this safe method were made
aware OF the fact that the majority OF the agents
desired the reform The campaign is not yet
ended. but II is safe to say that the backbone
Of the old aggravatng and complicated system
has been broken and that before the active SELL
ing season begins net price catalogues will be
universal
Among the best work ever undertaken by the
Touring Club Of France is the effort II is
making to induce the hotel proprietors all over
the country to improve the sanitation Of their
hotels When affiliated house is found with
defective sanitary apparatus, the club offers 70
deliver free to the landlord new and perfect
appointments carriage free. and 20 per cent off
price That they may succeed all over
France and that quickly. will be the prayer
Of all who have ever toured there and hope to
tour again.
An English Court has rendered peculiar de-
cision recently. 1t is to the effect that cycle
left with dealer for repairs. and in turn sent
% a manufacturer TO have the repairs made
may be seized and held by the latter as an off
SET TO a debt that may be due the manufacturer
by the dealer The rights OF the owner or the
machine appear 10 count for nothing. and, IN
order 70 protect himself. il this decision is up
held he must satisfy himself that the dealer Is
not indebted to any maker 10 whom he may
intrust the machine.
A cycling trip which costs nearly $4,000 is ex-
pensiNe. whether it be a pleasure trip, bust
ness trip. a racing trip. or any other kind OF
cycling trip. Yet c. w Bennett. member Of
a cycling firm in Sydney. " S w. has told
mat the visit Of Plat Belts TO Australia cost
the company employing him that amount The
difficulty was 10 ge: sufficient pacing for the
champion, who is a marvel behind good team
More BICYCLES were sold in Dayton Ohio In
1855 than in 1897. The increase in the demand
for wornen's models amounted 10 - per cent
The sale Of tandena decreased. The net sell
ing price Of the popular models throughout the
season ranged from So to $50. Machines list
ing at $50 have sold fairly well Models listing
above that pr'ce have been slow sellers. Every
month this year has been better than the same
month in 1891 Department store competition
does not greatly worrJ Dayton cycle agents
The best concerns have sold stifiy This is
fair sample Of the trade reports sent in TO the
manufacturers from many of the other Western
cities.
4 4 Spalding was seen at his office recently
and when his opinion Of the chalnless wheel
and it's chances for another year vas asked he
said. Experience has proved that the chain
less wheel has come 10 stay. 1t was difficult
matter 70 perfect this style OF wheel. and many
disbursements were met with at first The
chainless woeel is destined 10 become more ana
more popular. BY that do not mean 10 say
II Will srpersede the chain wheel ne 'nlns
viii resolve itself into two classes for the new
stvlc IS bound to be more expensive than the
present chain machine. The best Of workman