The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13
INCIDENTS OF CYCLYDON.
New Tire Intintor-Hints from q French
Scientist.

new penny in the slot machine for in
natng tires has just appeared. which can
be worked easily and docs not get out OF
order so that would be patrons lose their
coppers. The outward appearance OF the
contrivance is much similar to a FIRE alarm
box, but 1t is about three or four times as
big. The face OF the iron box containing
the mechanism is painted red and can be
readily seen at night II standing at any
place along the road. Connected with a
shaft that projects from the centre OF the
box Is a crank. After penny is deposit
ed. a button has to be pushed. and the crank
may then be turned. The valve OF the tire
Is simply inserted into the jaw Of hook
shaped piece OF iron tubing that projects
from the bottom OF the box. To do this 1t
Is necessary to lift the wheel slightly from
the ground, and the hook then supports 1t.
Turning the crank operates four pumps that
are inside. and the combined air pressure
from them passes through the tubing to the
tire The handle turns very easily. and
after the machine is released 1t can be
worked long enough to completely innate
one tire. Then It locks itself again. The
distinctive feature of the machine is that
IL has no rubber tubing exposed. 1t Is the
invention OF a New Jersey concern, but has
not been put out generally, as no company
has been formed to handle It. The popu-
larlty OF these machines Is largely with
night riders, who are without pumps. and
cannot find stores open, although If such
affairs could BE- distributed along the boule
wards and roads. they would undoubtedly
be a boon 10 riders who now have to pay
Ave cents a tire for imitation in any store.
How readily riders will take TO anything
OF the kind that is reliable Is indicated by
the fact that one of the new boxes tina;
has been placed on trial at Sixtieth Street
and the Boulevard is patronized by from
fifty to sixty-fve cyclists a day. Accord
ing to NJ. l.. Bridgman. who has taken an
interest in the operations at the box, and
been watching II. even the riders who carry
pumps prefer paying cent to working with
hand-pump al their tires. The idea has
not as vet been worked out as to be
available to automobiles but 1t looks as II
this new machine could be made to answer
the purpose il it was placed at the curb
line aud the nook turned so that the nozzle
pointed horizontally instead OF upwards.
In order to determine exactly how fast rid
ers are TIA ceiling in the parks OF Rochester.
the comm. ssioners there have caused posts
to he ertCtc! at intervals OF 1852 feet along
the dIiNcNays An officer looking at his
watch as a Cyclist passes one OF thaSe POSTS
aud uCIlnG how long II takes the rider to
reach he next nag, can tell exactly At what
rate he ia riCing. by referring to table the
colnIui! .iCners have furnished The speed IL
nit in the PARKS is eight miles an hour. To
| ride nj this rate means mile in seven mi
nutcS and thirty seconds, and II should take
| a CyCiSt Just thirty seconds to pass over
| the 80 feet. In this city an idea can he
| gained Of the speed by taking the time re-
| Qulred to pass one OF the blocks betW ten the
numbered streets. These are about go feet
| long. Multiplying the time for tho block by
| twenty ono will give a rough figure for the
| time per mile.
The BicvcIng N'OrM OF Boston SAYS:
The classification OF a bicycle as a We
| niclc was made many years ago, and has
| been upheld whenever il has been called In
! question. As vehicle the bicycle Is en-
| ;tlCd TO all the privileges OF the road, and
| the courts have always upheld these rights.