The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-21

and Starkey. 1t is the second device
for the same purpose they have in
vented and patented. When they had
patented the first one, they thought
they could improve on it, and set to
work with the result that they think
they now have one Of the best, if not
the very best, bicycle brake that has
been invented.
The brake is attached to the hub Of
the rear wheel Of the bicycle and is
applied by slight back pressure Of
one of the pedals. In coasting, the
and, should the wheel go too fast,
slight back pressure Of one of the ped
ais applies the brake and stops or
checks the speed. The brake is released
by pressure on the other pedal. The
device is compact, so much so that it
would not be noticed on a passing BIZ
cycle. In connection with the accom-
panying cut the following is taken
from the description in the patent:
The brake mechanism comprises means
whereby, upon applying a Slight back pres
sure to the pedal the wheel may be placed
ing him to bring the wheel to a full stop.
Or in coasdng, to regulate Its speed These
means consit of a bell crank lever, pivoted
slot formed in a brace brazed or otherwise
secured to the lower end of one Of the back
stays and the rear end of one Of the back
Figure IT denotes brake band which en-
compasses the brake wheel and has one Of
its ends alta attached to IS, stud on the bell
to stud. 10, on said bell crank lever, 50
that when said lever is rocked or actuated
the band will be drawn tightly about the
l!y stop the motion Of said wheel. This band
is preferably formed of spring steel, so that
when pressure is removed from the bell crank
lever the band will spring from FRACTIONAL
contact
Only three Of the brakes have been
applied to wheels. One of them is in
New York, and the other two in the
possession Of the inventors. AS an in
dication of how a wheel can be handled
with one of these brakes, Mr.. Starkey
tried the Selby avenue hill and found
he could ride down that incline without
riding down the St. Peter street hill.
In discussing the new brake yesterday,
Mr.. Starkey said:
cit is one Of the lightest and neatest
and most powerful brakes invented.
1t is hardly noticeable on a wheel. The
pedal stop is not visible. Brakes on the
tires have been discarded by most rid
ers, as there is too much injury to the
tires and too severe strain on the
forks of the forward wheel. Besides,
they are apt to cause accidents to the
rider, instead Of prevent them.
with our pedal rest and brake, you
do not remove your feet from the ped
ais to coast, and you have a brake
that will stop you in one-half of the
distance that you can by back-pedaling
without any eXertion whatever. Then
we have the pedal stop and brake COM
bined, and it Is all worked by the feet
without removing them from the ped
ais. The hands are not used in any
way in applying the brake, nor Is the
position of the body changed in any
way. The pedal rest works automa-
tically; the pedals stop all movement
when you are not working your feet.
This will not effect the running of the
wheel until you apply the brake, or it
stops Of it's own accord. IT, when stop
ing, the rider is descending a hill, you
stop the feet in any position desired
by the rider; the wheel will glide along
the same as though you would remove
If you wish to apply the brake you
will have your right pedal back on a
horizontal line with the left in front,
or can have them the reverse. By bear
ing down on the back pedal you apply
the brake, which works very gradually
if so desired. The more you bear down,
the tighter it will brake. The device
is powerful. and you can put your
weight on the pedal when braking the
WHICH,, IL 81 OCoiI Ct l. liehS w III lONh lIc
wheel almost solid and cause the bicy-
Gle to stop on any bill without any
danger of lifting the rider over the
handlehars. To relieve the brake you
simply bear down on TIE forward pedal;
then you can still coast or pedal the
wheel The pedal stop makes coast
ing safe, as you sit on the wheel with
your feet on the pedals without NOV
ing them in the least. IT takes only a
very modest amount of weight to an
ply the brake, from five to TWENTY-FIVE
pounds of pressure will brake it on
any hill"
Mr. Schultz is the electrician, and
Mr.. Starkey the superintendent Of
grounds at Wildwood.