The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-23
COLUMBIAS.
Various Improvements Are
Shown in Chainless.

The Pinkham, Willis Company OBJ
served Washingtons birthday by hav
ing the formal opening exhibit of this
years Columbia and Hartford wheels,
for which they are the Worcester
agents. 1t was on February %, twenty
two years age yesterday, that Col. A.
A. Pope first undertook the manufac-
ture Of bicycles, and for that reason
Washington's birthday is set aside as
Opening day in the Columbia calen
dar.
The new Columbia chainless machines
for l899 Models SO and 60, show various
Improvements as a result of a seasons
observation and study of the excellent
working of the 1898 models. The frame
lines have been brought thoroughly up
to date, and the larger tubing, internal
expanders, smaller gear covers, narrow
rear forks and hubs, beautifully fin
ished black and gold rims and general
refinement of detail, in combination
with the peculiarly neat construction
necessary to the chainlesS gear, impart
to these new models unusual attrac-
tivepess and style. Certain important
changes have been made in the running
gear. The forward mechanism, which
last year was assembled directly into
the crank bracket itself, is now placed
in an independent bushing, or sleeve,
which is inserted in the bracket and
clamped in position. The gear adjust
ments both front and rear have been
made entirely Independent of each
other, thus greatly simplifying the OPP
Grafton of bringing the gears to mesh.
The ball race of each gear bearing
forms part of the gear itself, bringing
the bearing directly into the line Of
thrust and doing away with all danger
of springing the gears In hard pedaling.
The Columbia bevel-gear chainless,
first placed on the market in October,
1897, survived every apprehension Of its
early critics, has made a most enviable
record during 1898 and bids fair to rank
very high in popular favor in 1899. The
main argument for the machine is that
its running gear is always at the point
OF highest efficiency, enabling the rider
at all times to cover a given distance
with the minimum of exertion. The
mechanism is beyond the interference
of dust, mud, slush, rain or snow, and
this quality of rt-proofness and
weather proofness alone places the
machine in a class by itself.
In the new Columbus, Modeis 81, SIS
and 61 is embodied every excellence
which can enter into theA making of a
machine of the chain type The main
tubes are of l Ia inch sizeA with other
tubes proportional. The Wheel base
is sufficiently heightened to afford room
for as large sprockets as maN be de-
sired front and rear. A special scutting
of the sprockets does away With all
danger of lost power through sliding of
the chain at the points of contactAWlth
the sprockets. The narrow 3-16fnch
chamfered hardened pin chain is used,
the solid B block affording all necessary
strength. The handle bars are of an
tirely new design and are carried foF-
ward two inches from the shaft. TIE
4 1-2-inch tread and narrow construct
ton at the rear hub give these models
a peculiarly compact and trim appear
ance. Both have the stylish low-hung
crank bracket and very handsome black
enamelled and gold-striped special rims.
Columbia Model 40 is a light-running,
finely balanced, handsome road ma
chine. which was favorite with a large
class of riders a year ago. AS this
years model perpetuates the pattern
and general details of the equipment of
the 1898 Model 49, it has not been given
a new name. 1t has however, been
greatly improved by changes at the
head which strengthen the frame CON
struction very materially
The company has devoted especial at
tention to the production OF tandems OF
the double diamond and combination
types, and believes that the present
models are the strongest, safest and
easiest running tandems ever manu-.
featured. They are offered as embody.
ing everything essential to the com
fort. convenience and perfect enjoyment
of the many who find exhilaration and
pleasure in riding machines Of this
class.