The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30
MYSTERY OF OLD WHEELS.
EVEN DEALERS CAN'T TELL WHAT
INCOMES or THEM An.

NO Age Limit Ou Their tsefulness-
The Trade In Secondhand Bicycles.
What becomes OF all the old bicycles?"
slowly repeated the manufacturers agent to
whom the question was put We'll. have
frequently asked the very same question and
never received two answers alike l do not
know whether any person has succeeded in
discovering profitable means for utilizing an
tlquated or discarded bicycles or any OF their
component parts. There might be highly re-
munerative field for some genius who can de-
wise useful employment for the wheels
frames and other important parts OF the bikes
makeup; but then / don't know where the
genius would be able to collect his abandoned
machines. Certainly not from the manufac-
turers or their agents. because / never knew
one Of them who was burdened with discarded
or ont -of-date machines which could be sold
so low that genius who wanted them for their
material could make profit out OF the deal.
But that's not answering your question.
Most bicycle manufacturers will tell you that
the old wheels drift away in lots OF small size
some to the rural districts Of the United States
and Canada, some TO the Italian trade. which
at one time was quIte extensive. and others to
the countries Of South America or Mexico
MANY od-fashioned wheels are sent by my own
particular factory 10 the southern States. the
colored people being the principal purchasers
There are thousands OF bicycle riders here
in New York who buy new wheel al the be-
ginning OF every season. and return their old
ones for part payment. They would no more
think of disporting themselves about town
and its vicinity on wheels OF last years pattern
than they would Of going for a ride In Central
Park in a hearse. aud l know OF several cases
where bike enthusiasts have refrained from
riding for weeks merely because their wheels
were q month or so behind the reigning style
This ambition to have new machine every
season Is not confined to any particular class
or to those cyclists who never know what it Is
to need ready money. Many young men and
women Of extremely modest means procure n
fresh mount every year. and in order to be
strictly up TO date and crafty this within they
will forego almost any other pleasure. This
accounts for the fact that old wheels. and by
that mean wheels which were new less than
two years ago are seldom seen In the streets
Of New York. But as less than - per cent OF
the machines fnd their way back to the agents
who originally sold them. there are still thou
sands whose disappearance and continued alb
sence are matters OF unsolved mystery.
The annual exchange OF old wheels for new
ones brings a great number Of second hand
wheels in all conditions to the repair shops OF
the manufacturers. These are carefully re-
paired. recommended and put In the best Of or
namental condition. Some are in nearly the
same good order as when they were Sold and
it is seldom indeed that wheel is in snch
poor repair as to rnnder its renovation impos-
SiblH or Improbable. The restored machines
reserve for beginners or are placed in estab-
lishments in the neigh borhood of good roads
and pleasure resorts to be rented
The second hand wheels where used bv our
stores are great aid to sal esmen in dispOSing
OF first-c class machines, For instance, n man or
woman " DO does not know how to ride comes
to one 81 the warcrooms and wants a wheel
He or she will inquire II we have not good
and. OF course. we promptly supply tho de.
mard, generally without an effort to sell new
hike In two , or three Tee X the old Wheel in
contagious as this am blton to, skim about on
Tor boys and girls. as they generally subject
case q adult beginners with a desire, to take
their frst falls from an ont.of-date wheel tho
dren are returned in the course OF time and re-
placed with new ones.
,n There was time. ard not 50 long ago a,
out OF date wheels found u ready and excep-
tiopally ino market in the riding academies
such pass now that i is next to Impossible to
rent wheels Of the ~ or ~ pattern. Every
complement of ~ wheels. "a well "a ultra
fashIonaole deyiations from the straight bike.
Hundreds Of obsolete wheels are put to ex..
iresh-air institutions in the rural districts and
orphan asylums In the interior OF the state.
These kind hearted men and women turn the
old wheels over to amuse the boys and girls
under thor care. and persons who live near
teresting stories of baretooted boys and girls
endeavorng TO ride old-fashioned machines
trap pedals scorching away through sand,
races and learning drol tricks; The, chiidren
will play for hours at a time with old discarded
Wheels converting them into imaginary mills
or,srnnIng wheels. 4 unable or too small to
I'm the South, as | said and In the West you
will ind great many old wheels. particularly
travel westward from Jersey City the Wheels
seem to date further back the further you go.
TO be sure, there are many people in each OF
noy who have wheels OF the latest pattern 1o Tor
the ami bitten to be strictly up to date in the
particular region. but am talking now about
the poorer people and the farmhands. In the
every SorRinsman and shop or factory tt ea Rlrl
encountered Is spinning along to and from
very lille an !" them see What to IS
when it was made so long "a it performs it's
mission. One thing in particular which have
the United States, Is that on a rainy day the
collection Of wheels seen Is more rare that is
clines me to the belief that a great many peo-
pie in smaller communities possess two wheels.
Se 81 shsy a
to ride on rainy days. Perhaps this il also the
large number Of wheels which never return for
exchange nor find their way to the Jnnk
dealers. for the Junkshop IL the final repos-
tory OF thousands OF obsolete machines. Pass
ing along Centre street. some Of the
thOroughfares on the east side whore
dealers In miscellaneous articles are found.
you will find at least one such wheel standing
lonely and rigid in front Of every Junk shop.
and very often the proprietor carries line OF
five or six. Besides this, he has usually two or
three supply wheels on and,-that is, IL he pur-
chased four or more utterly dlaPidated wheels
he will take one apart to replace the broken
and missing parts on the others. In case the
substitution should fail to answer. " hat then
on. the dealer Is bound 10 make them III in
some way On ono Of the cranks Of the refur-
hished wheel he will place rubber cOmbna-
ton pedal taken from womun's wheel and
DestOw upon the other crank a tremendous
rat trap pedal which would make "a No. IL boot
feel lonely.
II was sauntering down Centre street Just Il
few days ago and paused in voceless awe be-
fore Il rehabilitated machine which graced tho
assorted show before one of the Junk shops
The proprietor remarked me, and. seeming u
possible customer. came bowling out ~ talk
about the merits Of the contraption.
60 lest fixed that wheel up good as new
myself. said he. swelling with Iirlde an dere
amt better on tn street. 1t weighs tifty-six
pounds. an III sell II cheap as 1t stands
lnf -aiV OF h;niy