New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-05
THE WHEEL on THE PLANET MARS.
Az EARTHLY AGENT At THE FIVE HI'NDREDTr
BIENNIAL CYCLE EXHIBITION OF
THE MARTIANs.

The agent stepped from the interpanetary pro-
iectile-car and entered automobile which swift
" carried himself and his bicycle trunk 10 the ex-
hibtion hall l. was the date Of the Goth biennial
cycle show on the planet Mars and this agent was
the first TO represent the terrestrial manufacturer
He knew that the Martians We're reputed TO be
wonderfully advanced IN all things scientific me
chanlcal and philosophical. bat he was daring
agent and he meant 20 see what could he done
Moreover did he not represent the skew Hummer
bicycle. fitted with parabolc sprockets. cissoidaI
chain blocks six rows Of balls in every bearing and
q narne-plate that was the supreme effort OF a
gifted designer of stove castings? SO he arranged
his exhibit wondered a little at the strange beauty
and majesty Of the great room I'm which the WheeI'
were displayed and awaited results. At once his
bicycle attracted great attention. The space around
his booth was crowded, and he was Piled with ques-
tions from manufacturers and riders.
To hts sunrise IL soon appeared That the feature
which aroused the greatest interest was the chain
1t became evident that no one present had ever
seen such a device applied a bicycle. Apparent
" as the agent concluded from the remarks ana
rror, what he could see about him, every other
bicycle In the exhibition was what ne had learned
to call chainless.
young sir. visitor from another planet" said
STRENGTHENING Marian. who laid ASIDE me new
york Tribune for an instant. what is that chain
for"
Hum: never saw anything ike that. What is
the good of il? Why substitute such thlhg ior
/ bevel gears
We'll" said the agent. 1T certainly "orAs' anu
il costs less than bevel gears.
"Rut doesn't II stretch and get full OF grit ana
Dull the fran out Of line and wear out rapcly'
and isn't IT usually d!ity and general nuisance
Pardon my criticisms" continued the Marian
merely express. perhaps too PLAINLY "na' o''"' :
10 me as ! look at your curious mechanism !
ri
The agent was somewhat taken aback lie had
/ never thought OF introducing chain wheel as II
Itself a novelty but he rallied, and answered 10
The effect that while some Of these dhhculues
might exist vet they could be reduced by applying
a gear-case
And where is the rear-case?' asked Marian.
"Er-wen. our new anti-squeak gear-case is not
unite ready for the trade. We have improved I'M
mensely on last years form and expect TO nave
so,re,b,nr really good I'm time for the opening OF
the season As for those chainless wheels OF yours
they simply aint in St. See this wheel SPIN ana
che agent gave the rear wheel quick turn. IL
ran beautifully and long. and settled 10 rest waive
down after several oscillations.
"Ob | see now" piped little boy Marian 1T
,snt 10 ride It's play with Please buy il for me-
mana | can amuse the baby with H.
flesh" said the father. your top SPINS muc"
batter than that. Then addressing the agent;
Indeed sir yol cannot suppose mat an eHhlo-
ton Ike that gives any real indication OF the qnal-
,tes Of a bicycle You merely show smooth bear
,ngs loosely adjusted, and probably heavy ,lfe,
~ condrons OF actual use are FAR different from
tbose in a showcase The very looseness ana ires-
dom which you have demonsH must ea'ue ,,
cSuso crampinP and binding as soon as any STRAIN
IS Put on ,'r nst 70 tell me seriously" said the
sernI 'ttbat there isn't chain wheel on MS
nIanei2 Aren't you joking .,. 1850 ono
q, us ever thought OF such hing as driving II
bicycle by chain or belt ie4dcq ion orS
Iicvfles we're invented among us. and when theI
n.y. hevei gears were adopted as matter OF
O"ii. hofrc cyden!lv the simplest ana most e.
fectiye means OF ransmitilng motion uHat, rdd e
ea,i,, rrofccted and strong We have had many
socaIled freak bicycles In the last housand ysats
but never one open TO 80 many iu"'" o''0'
''o ""nsb1eciions objections" exclaimed the repre-
CDye. "a Earth Il should say there were OBJ
ssections 10 those things OF yours know some
ming about wheels myself have statement ''o"'