Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-01

the almost total failure of the Ameri-
can bicycle. Four years ago this I'M
mense market could have been con-
Iquered. The English machines were
cumbrous high priced affairs ana the
industry was In no shape to meet COM
petition. Instead of studying the de-
mand and meeting 1t with good mach
ms and prompt methods, lot OF por
machines wholly unsuited to English
| requirements We're dumped on the mar
ket thru English wholesalers and Amer
| lean bicycles given a reputation from
which 1t will never wholly recover. In
the meantime the English manufact-
urers greatly improved the character
and increased the quantity of their out
put so that today in every town ana
village of the country they nave eX-
cellent local agencies and repair shops
and can practically defy competition
of whatever kind. England was also
| a pioneer in the manufacture or gas
engines, and sharp continental compe-
tition, especially German, had a tend
ency to encourage and promote I'M
provements of all kinds. The industry
| is competent and thoroughly intrenched
| and the field an inviting one for the
exercise of even superior methods. The
| American motor bicycle, however. was
the pioneer in that line and it will be
| the fault of Introductory methods If ii
does not maintain its prestige and en-
ormously increase it's market. In To-
comedies. or steam cars, the American
machine maintains a lead, but for no
I,,fb ar fD
tinental and English manufacturers
have paid no attention to this style of
car, but the American auto, or petrol
car, is scarcely in evidence. This sub
| ject alone is large one. but the gist
of the situation is this: English capt.
tai is just now paying marked atten-
ton to the industry and in recent speed
trials and exhibitions has had marked
success. Continental manufacturers
are establishing manufactures or. If
not actual manufactures, repair works
and agencies under competent super
! vision and capable of caring for all
| demands on quick notice. Automo-
| bllists so far are limited to the wealthy
| leisure and sporting classes. The ma
tional association, which represents
practically all the pleasure cars In the
island. has now enrolled about 5000
machines and the leading factories are
from six months to one year behind or
iers. premiums of from $500 TO $1,000
not being uncommon for cars ready to
turn out. This class of purchasers are
not much influenced by cost price. They
want the best, the speediest. the
smootest in operation, the most stylish
and comfortable, but they are not go
ling to decker on details across the At
lantic. nor buy machines there, what
ever their agreed merits. with no near
Ter facilities for expert advice, repairs
and alterations. Ii Americans wish to
hold their own in this competition, they
must follow continental methods and
establish here competent repair head
quarters What has been done, now
ever Is only the commencement. En-
glish roads. from one end of the island
TO the other, are ideal. The cost of
maintaining horses and carriages is al
most prohibitory to the great middle
class They are waiting for the APP
pearance of reliable, smooth running
machine to cost in the neighborhood of
$500 Whether that machine shall be
propelled by steam, petroleum or the
serviceable qualities and cheap mainte-
nance can be demonstrated. That Is
the present opportunity to compass a
market greater than the one now ex-
listing for pleasure racers, but it cannot
be accomplished at long range or by
hating or imperfect methods. Factor
les here would be unnecessary, but re-
pair shops, expert advice and represen-
tatives with full authority to act in any
emergency are prerequisite to either
substantial or lasting success. In a
general way. English markets are open
to any time or labor saving device for
factory, shop, farm or house the price
of which is reasonable, the merits of
which are practically demonstrated and
the promoters of which are able to in
augurate and maintain campaign of
education. There is, for instance, no
perceptable limit to the market for
American furniture. provided that
only and always that English styles
are conformed to. The American
range or cooking stove has been the
dream desire of the English middle
classes for a century-only they didn't
know it. No people attempt such econ
omy with coal and no people ever made
more miserable failure. Three four
tbs of their coal goes UP the chimney,
and no English chimney range is ready
for cooking short of from one to two
hours stokin, No American housewife
would stand this nte-diluvian method
for day if she could reach an Ameri-
can hardware store. yet to introduce
the economical cooking stove will be
no easy task.
A self-feeding, easily regulated. base
burner for heating purposes that would
use a. good quality of English soft coal
of even SIZE hardly to be distinguished
from anthracite, would be a household
blessing nine months OF the year in
this damp and chilly climate. but to
make the English people believe it |
would require a practical demonstra-
ton and the uprooting of very ancient |
and sacred prejudices. While public |