The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-03

invention, patented pneumatic tire
More than once l have heard from Mr.
Dunlop himself the simple tale of how
he came to invent this device. The safe
ty'' bicycle had then come into vogue
but its wheels were shod with solid rub
Der tires. Mr.. Dunlop's little son pos
sessed a tricycle., and as the Dunlops then
lived in Belfast and the Irish roads were
of very bad surface. this veterinary sur
geon applied his mind to contrive some
means of minimizing the harsh jolting to
which his boy was subjected when he
rode his tricycle..
A rubber tube filled with compressed
air was evolved, and it afforded such COM
fort to the rider that Mr.. Dunlop brought
the idea before adult cyclists and some
enthusiasm was aroused among them.
But Mr.. Dunlop would have hardly been
more successful in 1883 than Thomson In
1S45 had not another man appeared on the
scene.
Mr.. Harvey du eros was at that time a
prominent figure in Irish sporting circles,
and his sons were famous for their Prov
ess in cycle racing With true business
instinct, Mr.. du Cros saw the immense
possibilities of the pneumatic tire for
cycles. and he threw himself heart and
soul into the work of making this crude
invention practicable. His early efforts
were greeted with derision. Cyclists and
cycle manufacturers scoffed at the clum-
sy bolster tire offered to them and al
most without exception experts declared
against It,
Then Mr.. du eros brought a band of
Irish cyclists including his sons and Mr.
R. ]. Mecredy. to England. and they
gained sweeping victories with the pneu-
matio tire on the racing track 1t was
evident now that the new invention would
eventually triumph, but long and des-
perate fight against conservatism and
prejudice had still to pc waged, and 1t is
reasonable to assume that but for the
enterprise and ability of Mr.. Harvey du
eros, Mr.. Dunlops invention might have
lain dormant for many years Had this
been the case the whole progress of mod
ern locomotion from motoring to airman-
ship would have been checked for we can
trace the direct influence of the air-filled
tire In all the astonishing developments
of the last q years So from the bad
state OF Irish roads, from the solicitude
Of fond parent to make smooth progress
for his sons cycle over rough roads
Thomson's idea was recreated, and this
time the right man was at hand to de-
velop the idea
From the pneumatic-tired bicycle there
evolved naturally the idea of fitting air
tires to motor cars, and in this direction
France led the way. The crude mechan-
ism of the early motors was saved from
the rough vibration of the roads. and the
automobile Improved with amazing swift
ness as soon As these tires were en-
ployed. With the progress of the motor
car came the perfecting of the petrol
engine and its application to manifold
purposes. Last of all. 1t made the airshir
and the aeroplane possible. and In each
of these vessels rubber fabric is extern
sively employed.
Follow the evolution from small tc
great Today cycles are numbered In
millions. the total in the United Kingdom
being over 100000. There are close or
200 motor vehicles In the United King
DOM and the worlds total must soon ap
proximate to half million All over the
globe the trail Of the air-filled tire has
been laid by millions and millions o.
wheels. and the road is becoming once
more the main artery Of our social sys.
tenn. r the air, too. we are tracing new
routes by the aid OF the petrol engine
Airships are being built by every grea
power, and of aeroplanes Franco alon,
has already nearly 200 most Of then
fitted with pneumatic-tired wheels. Witt
all this has come the creation of man,
important trades and the encouragement
Of innumerable allied industries. perhaps
the most remarkable Industrial develop
ment being that IN correction with tn,
production Of raw rubber.
And this colossal factor In our indus
trial life has come into existence once be
cause Of the discomfort of child cyclin,
along the rough roads Of Ireland wheth
err OF Dunlop or Of Thomson, Edinburgh
statue will not be without significance a
a symbol in our industrial history.