Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-05-24
Interesting Statement of Mr.. Charles
H. Baker.

The backward condition of the
early part of the season has quite
seriously affected the bicycle trade,
and this years volume of business in
that line will be somewhat short of
previous years.
Speaking of the conditions of trade
and the outlook, Chas. H. Baker,
secretary of the American National
Cycle Co., this city, said as follows
to. a DEMOCRAT reporter Tuesday
afternoon:
This year, so far, is not up to pre-
vious years. 1t has been a very pc
culiar year. At the close of business
last season, with evidence of pros
perity in sight, the trade generally
took rosy view of the situation, and
predicted larger business than the
trade had seen for a number of
years.
''At this suggestion, the factories
all made early arrangements for a
larger output. 1t is usual for manu-
facturers to make what they call
jobbers' contracts. These cover con-
tracts in lots of 1000 wheels, and
sometimes 10000 and 1900 wheels,
to single dealer, and are generally
taken out by buyers during the early
months of the season-January, Feb
ruary and March.
During the months of February
and March, this year, the weather
was unusually severe, the season
was late and country roads almost
impossible. These conditions con-
tinued until within a few weeks ago.
The results have been that the speci-
fications from the jobbers have not
been sent in, as the individual writer
was backward in making his decis-
ion; and, like wheel within
wheel, small dealer could not give
the jobbers their order, who, in turn,
held back on the manufacture, MAX
ing him bear the whole burden of the
dull effects of the season.
Notwithstanding this, business
has been fairly good, and indications
point toward a long season. Of
course, much depends on the season
from now on, but the makers of
wheels have taken encouragement
from the reports of their agents, and
the correspondence of their country
customers.
"Our company has manufactured
about 10000 wheels so far. and eX-
poets to make 10000 more before the
season is over. Last year, by reason
of our starting late in the season, we
only made about 12,OO0 wheels. This
year we started in to manufacture
the wheels about the middle of Jan
uary. We are making a high grade
wheel this year, using the best of
but are selling the wheels
at low price. E;
''The facilities for making wheels
are about equal in all factories
where they have improved machin-
cry. The same scale of wages
operate in one factory as in another,
and the high priced wheel is decid-
edly a thing of the past.
''The manufactures have narrowed
the trade features down to the de-
sign of the wheels more than any
thing else. Each manufacturer en-
deavors to get up some special part,
a sprocket or handle bar on which
basis of claim is distinct from any
other make, and about the only diff
ference in any of the wheels lies in
these particulars.
"The people who have been hurt
most in the bicycle trade this year
are the high-priced makers, the peo-
pie having become educated in the
merits and requirements of a wheel
to be able to Judge for themselves of
its value, and the almighty dollar
asserts itself, and a cheaper wheel is
,alled for
For prices on "Jahant'r Hot Blast |
Furnaces call on .Jahant d Co., sue
.acSnrS tp Tohont G, \Nahnr