New-York tribune., 1900-01-24

acetylene with the same abandon that hre eater
jugges with liquid fire
A combination pedal appears. which. when htteo
with rubbers seems to have been designed as
rubber pedal only. With rubhers removed now
ever 1t does not appear incomplete, but as II de-
signed as a rat trap pedal. The rubbers. being tri-
angIar are light and interchangeable. but each
may be turned to present three separate contact
surfaces.
SOME OF THE ANCIENTS.
There are few more interesting features of the
show than the models showing the evolution of
the modern bicycle These are on exhibition in
the gallery the top OF the staircase to the right
on entering the amphitheatre. The old time dandy
horse" or "draisine" which heads the line of
ancients is certainly antiquity. Its massive
saddle and framework in strong contrast TO
the light clean running, chainless wheel which
stands at the opposite end of the procession the
dandy horse has neither pedals nor cranks. They
were not needed in its day. The rider bestrode
the saddle and propelled the wheel by touching
his toes the ground and pushing II along What
he did when ascending hill Is not explained
Some rough models with saddles so large as to
suggest easy chairs and with cranks attached 10
the forward wheel. next In line. Then come
a couple of old "ordnares' with the high front and
the small wheel; "crossbar safety, some
4O-pound diamond frames and models of the chain
wheels which three four years ago were con-
sdered the acme of perfection cycle construction
The entire exhibit one OF the most interesting
object lessons progress OF cycle building that
could possibly be presented. c. w. Dickerson, who
Is mainly responsible for this exhibit takes no
little pride In the remarkable array OF wheels
COASTER BRAKE DEVICES.
Coaster brake or free wheel" devices, as they
are called in England, are popular. interesting
and mysterious that plain, simple description OF
them by an expert devoid of technical terms, such
rs here follows will not be amiss The mechan-
ism of coaster brake device is all contained in the
rear hub from which 1t is operated by different and
VARYING pressures communicated to the mechan-
ism through the medium of the rear sprocket, front
sprocket chain cranks and pedals. In the rear
huh is contained clutch operating upon five or six
rollers or balls, which roll into place In separate
grooves these grooves being tapered and larger at
one end than the other. When a forward pressure
IS applied TO the pedal the balls run up into the
small end of the grooves and lock the clutch that
the sprocket and hub revolve as one. When 1t is
desired to coast, a slight pressure is put upon the
Medals when one pedal is at its highest point and
the other at its lowest point. and the balls
rollers then drop back the large ends of the
grooves so that the hub revolves with the wheel.
but the sprockets. chain cranks and pedals remain
stationary. To apply the brake firm pressure.
called back pedaling. Is applied 10 the pedals,
lower part OF the chain TO the sprocket, which
than wedges or Jams a disk against a drum n
"a thing a spring or other device against the hub
she'll and effectually stops the rear wheel from
yoIving A slight pressure forward releases this
lam and the wheel rolls along as before
TALK WITH PRESIDENT COLEMAN
President R. Lindsay Coleman of the American
u,cvnle Company has paid close attention 10 the
exhibit of automobiles at the show. stili when