The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-03


some TO the italian trade. which at one
time was quite expensive. and others TO
the countries Of South America or Mexi-
90 Many old Fashioned wheels are sent
by my own particular factory 10 the
Southern states the colored people being
the principal purchasers.
There are thousands Of bicycle riders
here in Chicago who buy new wheel at
the beginning OF every season, and return
their old ones for part payment. They
would no more think OF disporting them
selves about town and It's vicinity on
wheels OF last years pattern than they
would OF going for ride IN hearse.
and | know Of several cases where bike
enthusiasts have remained from riding
for weeks merely because their wheels
we're a month or so behind the reignlng
style. The annual exchange OF old wheels
for new ones brings a great number Of
secondhand wheels In all conditions 10
the repair shops OF the manufacturers.
These are carefully repaired. re-cnameled
and put I'm the best Of ornamental con-
difion. Some are in nearly the same good
order as when they were sold and It is
seldom. indeed that a wheel is in such
noor rerair as 10 render its renovation
Impossible or improbable. The restored
machines are then sent 10 the city stores
and are kept in reserve for beginners or
are placed IN establishments I'm the neigh
borhood OF good roads and pleasure re-
sorts 90 be rented.
"The secondhand wheels, where used
oy our stores. are great aid 20 sa'es-
mon ln disposing OF hrstciass machines.
For instance. u man or woman who does
not know how TO ride comes 10 one Of
the warero0ms and wants "a wheel. He
or she will inquire if We have not "A good
secondhand wheel. which We can sell
cheap. and Of course. We promptly sup
ply the demand. generally without an
EFFORT TO sell a new bike. I'm two or three
weeks the old wheel in nine cases out OF
ten. will be brought back and exchanged
for a new one. There g. nothing so con
tagious as this ambition 90 skim about
On the very latest thing IN wheels. Ware
rooms. too. have many calls for second
hand wheels for boys and girls. as they
generally subject a machine 10 rather
hard treatment. As in the case 81 adult
beginners with desire 90 take their
first IAN from an Out-of-date wheel. the
second hand affairs purchased for the
children are returned I'm the course Of
time and replaced with new ones
There was time. and not so long ago
at that. when the majority OF the second
hand and out-Of-date wheels found
ready and exceptionally fine market I'm
the riding academies and renting shops,
but things have come 10 such pass now
that 10 is next % impossible % rent
wheels OF the ~ or - pattern. Every
one Of the frst-clsss establishments has
"a FUN complement OF wheels az well
as many ultra-fashionabie deyiations
from the straight bike.
"In the South. as / said. and in the
IA
wheels particularly I'm the country and
small villages As you travel westward
the wheels seem % date further back
the further you "a.
Ia the manufacturing towns YOU
will find that nearly every w0rkingman
or shop or factory girl encountered IS
spinning along 90 and from work on
wheel. and 10 seems % make very little
difference 10 them what 10 Is or when II
was made. so long as II performs its
mission. One thing I'm particular which 1
have noticed in the small manufacturing
cities OF the United states is that on
ru!ny day the collection OF wheels seen
Is more rare. that is. from the standpoint
Of antiquity which inciines me 20 the be-
lief that a great many people in smaller
communities possess two wheels. and
that. instead of turning 90 their old one
amen Allrs pun n iANnN Nllf il"Nf NAAHt NAANJ
keep 10 % ride on rainy days.
you will find al least one old wheel
standing lonely and rigid in front Of
every junk shop and very often the pro-
prietor carries a line 81 five or six Of
them Besides this he has usually two
or three supply wheels on haud-that IS
II he purchased four or more utterly
dllapldated wheels he viii take one apart
10 replace the broken and missing parts
ON the others. I'm case the substitution
should fail 10 answer. what then? Oh
the dealer IS bound 20 make them M Ia
some way. on one of the cranks Of the
refurnished wheel he viii place a rub
Der combination pedal taken from a
womans wheel and bcst0w upon the
other crank tremendous rat-trap pedal
which would make so. l3 boot feel
lonely.
"A few days ago T paused in voicelcss
awe before a rehabilitatcd machine which
graced the assorted show before one Of
The junk shops. The proprietor remarked
me. and. seeming a possible customer
came bowling out 90 talk about the
merits of the contraption.
" L jest fixed that wheel M good as
now myself said he swelling with pride,
AN dere amt better on IN street 1t
weighs hfty-six pounds an I'll sell it
cheap as IL stands
" But hfty-siN pounds Don't you
think that's too much2 ] protested. lie
looked at me I'm astonishment apparent
ly holding my knowledge ot wheels In
great contempt.
Cert ly not. was HIS emphatic re-
spouse. a heavy wheel is worth great
deal more than one of deere cheap little
light ones what falls apart when YOU
ride 'em. Its got moro stun in f.. don't
you see. an holds you mp better
THAT seeemd 20 be the prevailing idea
among the junk dealers. as / ascer-
tanned on inquiry one of them Informed
me quite conndentially. on learning that
[ was connected with the bicycle trade
that the business I'm old wheels was
languishing because capitalists and corpo-
rations had reduced the price Of good
and new wheels 10 "A minimum Work
ingmen said he can AFFORD 20 buy New
wheels now. so the junk dealers do not
keep 50 many as formerly. There was a
good trade In the obsolete wheels a few
years ago. but az present the trade is al
most wholly confined 10 supplying young
men from the Italian quarter. who are
the most enthusiastic wheclmen among
our foreign population. Chicago Inter
Ocean.