Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-06-09
CYCLE TRADE BOOMING.
manufacturers Report Business. 20 BE
On Firm Basis and AresSaR
isfsed with Prospects,.

Bicycle manufacturers are almost q
unit in expressing complete sAtisfac-
| ton with the present season fromea
strictly business standpoint. Prevail
| ing prices are an inducement to the
| average rider to abandon his old ma
| chine for mount of the present years
model. There is q steady demand from
| the novitiate ciass-those who ride but
| never owned wheel-while from the
ranks of the few who have resisted the
temptation to master the noiseless
steed converts are being made daily.
To cycle concerns all this is pleasing,
for the reason that only a handful of
the more prominent makers anticipat-
ed good season. Since the collapse
of the tremendous boom which bicycle
manufacturers enjoyed for brief sea-
son several years ago there had been a
steady decline, gradual but percepti-
bic, in the business. 1t was due to
manifold causes. Many who had no
Legitimate right to enter the trade COM
peted against the long-founded manu-
facturers. They did not prosper, but
nevertheless injured the manufacture
ers of standing. Others of similar ilk,
eager to share in the reputed fabulous
established bicycle side line. Their
product was the veriest trash, but buy
ers were found willing to pay as much
for one of the hastily assembled trucks
as really high-class machine COM
manded.
In the natural sequence of affairs
this illegitimate competition could not
survive. One by one these fimsy con-
either voluntarily or forced by the
pressure of impatient creditors But in
their destruction the manufacturer of
merit has been confronted with auction
sales and bargain drives of the onfa-
chimes of the defunct makers, and have
greatly suffered thereby.
This year, however, the atmosphere
has finally cleared. Wheels have cheap
ened in price during the interim, but
the process of manufacture has great
~ improved as well, good material costs
less, the extraneous expenditures for
merly made imperative by conditions
have been abolished and the bicycle
maker is able to calculate precisely
what his expenses viii be and proceed
accordingly.
This year those firms engaged in the
manufacture of bicycles and Access
series are of good standing. conducted
on strong business lines and appreci-
ative of the fact that fair competition
and upright methods Will in the end
rebound to their own benefit.
A representative of a well-knovn
make of wheel sums up the situation
in these words: "Our concern, and
others as well, L happen to know, obe-
heves that this year witnesses the real
metamorphosis of the cycle trade. Our
competitors are conducting business
squarely; the little fellows who did
themselves no good and us much harm,
have been wiped out, and thepurchaser
of wheel, if he pays a fair price, is
reasonably certain he is not getting
what is known as a tin wheel. More
over, the price of wheels has reached
the bottom step in the ladder. Riders
are enabled, in consequence, to eek
change their old mounts and a mod
crate sum for new machine. Cyclists,
or at least a good proportion of<them,
are proud of their wheels, and are
aware that new bicycle every season
is good investment" Y. Journal.