The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-18
The SEASONS CYCLES.
Review of the Several 'oS Wheels
and Their Prices.

Good Weather Stirs up Interest in the Bicy-
eIe Business-LocaI Dealers Anticipate a
Busy season-changes in the o7 Wheels
The chainless Hodels
The pleasant weather of the past fort
night has served to stimulate an interest
in the coming seasons cycling, much ap-
preciated by local bicycle dealers, repair
ing establishments and the cycling fra
ternity in general. For thorough sur
vey of the wheeling trade and the out
look for the seasons probable successes, a
detailed account of the new models, i'm
provements in cycling attachments and
conveniences, study of the remarkable
cut in the prices of high grade wheels
and its effect upon the cycling habit in
general, would require columns of space.
But hasty review of the subject as
exhibited by our local dealers more or
less activity, a large stock of new
wheels, prices remarkably low and on
level with those of many larger cities,
great rush of repairing orders, new
wheels being sold every day and a
general spirit of encouragement for a
good seasons business is everywhere
manifest.
The new thing-that is to mark the
cycling trade of 1S98-is, of course, the
chainless wheel. But most people yet
consider the chainless as an experiment
and hesitate before purchasing. The
few who buy them will doubtless be
eyed curiously all summer long. Then,
it the thing ''goes," the anticipant 81
told you SOS" will keep silent and the
chainless will be ''in it" for '99.
Willis Dutton, one of the best known
local dealers, says that trade is already
running in fine shape. He has the Cres-
cent and Stearns wheels. In the former
the wheel for '98 bears many new i'm
provements, particular among them
being the new flush Joints and direct
tangent spokes, lock nuts on bearings so
that the wheel may be taken off without
disturbing the bearings, new device for
locking the crank adjustment, and the
drop of the crank hanger has been in
creased from 2 to ala inches. But
the greatest improvement is in the
$75. The price of the Stearns is down to
many improvements and take place
among the choice wheels. Mr.. D1tton
returned recently from a three months
trip in the interests of the Crescent wheel.
He spent most of the time in New York
State, visiting about fifty places and
placed in all over 500 wheels.
The Spalding and Crawford wheels are
handled again this year by J. Fl. Schmidt
& Co. Very few changes have been
made on the regular '97 wheels, though
better workmanship have given the
wheel more perfect construction and
appearance all round. An Improvement
has been made in the Crawford frame,
rendering it more like the Spalding of
last year. The Crawford is made in two
grades which are offered now for $35 and
$50, while last year the price was $50
straight. This firm has also on hand
several of the '97 wheels which they are
now selling for $50. The Chainless
Crawford special, like the Crescent, is
soon to be out for $75. The prices of
Spaldings are $50 and $75. The firm is
also agent for the Lenape, with which
they started near the close of last season;
the price remains the same, $50. The
Schmidt Company Cycling Academy will
be conducted this year as last, in charge
of j. W. Tompkins, instructor.
Carlson Brothers Company, who make
the claim that they are the only real
bicycle dealers in the city, depending
upon the cycle trade and repairing all
the year round. They have this year
five wheels all standard make and good
sellers. The most popular is the Pierce.
1t shows very few Improvements of
special note, and the prices are down
from $75 and $100 of last year to $50 and
and $75. The Wolff-American which
comes next in point of demand is also down
to $75 and its special improvement is the
eccentric chain adjustment and saddle
adjustment. An oil attachment inside
the axles is another excellent arrange
ment, and guarantees the wheel to run
well for 1900 miles without oiling. The
Waverly has the j. and j. Clincher tire,
cones fitted with bearings on both sides,
making almost a double bicycle, back
pedal brake attachment, and price of $50
and $75. The talking point on the
Liberty is the sprocket wheel, only every
fifth tooth doing the work the rest being
smaller and thus, it is claimed, reducing
the friction at this point more than one
half. The price is $50 and $75. The
Lyndhurst is reduced from 800 to $75,
It's main point is the triple front fork,
making this part Of the wheel especially
strong.
To the manufactures Of the Columbia
may doubtless be attributed the respon-
sibility of the great drop in the price of
wheels of 1898. Starting in on July list
last they made a sweeping cut in the
price and will maintain the same this
year. William K. Muchmore, the Nc
Alpin block stationer, local agent for the
product of the Pope Manufacturing Co,
says that business is starting in with
rush this year. The Columbia and Hart
ford wheel of '98 bear no very marked
difference over those of last year and it
if claimed are as nearly perfect in design
and construction as possible, and they
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