The times., 1899-01-12
BICYCLE TRADE IN China
4 MARKET FOR PASSE STOCK
Peculiar R"nd Conditions About
H"nGIsong-Two AvniInnIc Cycling
thoroughfnres - All Makes Have
IN Equal Chnnce-Chinese Infutu-
"tcd With the New Vehicle.

Probably no manufacturers in the
United States spend more money in let
ters and circulars to attract foreign trade
than those engaged in the bicycle in
dustry. Not only does every
outgoing mail from this country
carry many letters directing foreign agen-
cies to make inquiries concerning the
trade, but many firms write direct to the
State Department requesting it to answer
many questions, through the consuls at
the various ports in foreign countries.
In compliance with a request of the Ma
ional Board of Trade of Cycle Manufac-
turers of New York, Consul General Wild
man, at Hongkong, has sent the follow
ing information concerning the bicycle
trade in China. He says
To thoroughly understand this market. IT Is
necessary 10 describe the highway conditions Of
the colony hongkonG is built on the side Of
mountain. l.So0 feet high, and all streets above
sea level are terraces broken 10y flights OF steps
making The majority OF them unavailable for
cycling purposes. Consequently. the available
roads are reduced to two. although there are
numerous excursions that the daring rider ean
take throughout the island. The favoItr and,
IN fact. only, road for ladies borders the hatbor
irOnt and is about eight miles long Every
evening from ; until it is alive with cyclists
with the most Heterogeneous lot OF machines ever
seen. Bicycles OF all dates run side by side
! hc other road referred To is called the Abcr-
deem road. which is also eight miles long THIS
road contains some htavy grades which strong
rider can take. but they do not commend them
selves 10 the majority
TINS Is froc port. There 10 zeal importers
Of BICYCLES although there are i've, small bgv..lc
repair shops which alway. keep a few on sale.
On the otlcr hand. every firm. from The largest
to the smallest, handles bicycles tor the CON
vcnirEce vi customers. who scattered all over
China and ihr Philippine Islands. Possibly hall
OF those which in use here were purchased
by Their owners direct from san Francisco and
probably two-thirds oi all the machines in use
here American. There is no iayoTit" make,
and all wheels have equal chances in this market.
There has been very little money spent in advcr-
Using ary particular make. in consequence of
which they all 2. under the generic name uf
''bicyClc~. and arp not distinguished hy names.
The Chinese, who are becoming the largest users
oi bicycles Oh this coast. are utterly Indifferent
20 name or reputation.
To reileraic what | have repeatedly written hi
cycle manufacturers. what this market demands
is a low grade. low priced machnc-olc that
would sell for say. 500 gold in america whole
sale. II You add. say $50 freight from New
York t6 Hnnekong the machine could bC sold
here at a nice profit. The high grades OF Ameri-
machines at present selling in this mar
ket for SIS Mexican, and where one could be sold
at this price one hundred at the cheaper figure
would find q market.
1t j. not necessary that The machine should even
lee OF d late model ] consider this a magnificent
field for bicycle manufacturers to uH'oah all their
old stock M bicycles should be fitted with
brakes, lamps and bells Since the occupation OF
Manila 10y the Americans, there has been some
thing Of a boom in the bicycle trade here, as
Hongkong has for wears been the feeder Tor the
Philippine Islands. well a. lis warehouse.
I would not advise bicycle makers 90 sell in
discriminatory to the unknown individual pur-
chaser on credit, as there are collection agen-
ci-s here.
do not wish it 10 be understood that by Cow
grade machine" ! mean a shoddy article.