The Modern Bicycle and Its Accessories
COPYRIGHT BY THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER ASS’N. A. D. 1898.
A COMPLETE REFERENCE BOOK FOR RIDER, DEALER AND MAKER
Republished from the Series of Articles Written for The Commercial Advertiser by Alex. Schwalbach and Julius Wilcox Under the Caption of “Bicycles for 1898,” Setting Forth the Improvements and Changes in Manufacture Since 1816.
THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER ASSOCIATION, 29 Park Row, New York, Publishers. 1898.
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
To the Cyclist who appreciates the advantage of understanding his wheel, its mechanism and its construction, for the same reason and because of the same interest felt by a horseman in his roadster, an engineer in his locomotive, or a yachtsman in his boat, the following pages can scarcely fail to be of interest and value.
Bicycles without number have been consigned to the scrap heap or discarded for new mounts, as the result of abuse and the lack of proper care, due solely to the ignorance of riders as to a wheel’s construction and requirements, while disappointments have resulted, in many instances, because the same lack of knowledge has prevented the wise selection of a well constructed and properly adjusted mount at the outset.
A bicycle can no more be expected to run smoothly without a proper adjustment of its parts and their maintenance in perfect running condition than can any other piece of machinery, and while the chain and chainless productions of 1898 are admirable for their simple mechanism, such points as the bearings and running gear require periodical inspection and attention to insure satisfactory service. This cannot be adequately given by a rider who has no conception as to the details of construction of his machine, and so it frequently happens that a bicycle sinks into an early grave because its rider persists in calling upon it for continued service, while utterly indifferent to its construction and requirements.
“Know thy wheel” is an excellent maxim for every rider to follow; for those who heed it the matter of emergency repair will be a simple thing, a smooth running wheel will be assured, the chance of accident reduced to the minimum, and the life of the machine extended throughout its fullest period. It is partly with a view to bringing about a better acquaintance between the average rider and his wheel that the following pages are presented.
Alex Schwalbach
Julius Wilcox
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PREFACE.
TRANSFORMATION OF “THE SHOW.”
A CYCLE OPENING DAY.
THE SWIFT MARCH OF IMPROVEMENT.
THE TENDENCY TO FIXITY.
THE TENDENCY TO REVERSION.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF DEVELOPMENT.
TENDENCIES IN GENERAL.
DROP OF THE CRANK BRACKET.
HEIGHT AND SHAPE OF FRAME.
SIZES AND SECTIONS OF TUBING.
REINFORCEMENTS AND JOINTS.
HUBS AND SPOKES.
CRANKS AND CRANK AXLES.
SEAT-POSTS AND HANDLEBAR FASTENINGS.
GEARCASES, PEDALS AND BRAKES.
CHAINS AND CHAIN ADJUSTERS.
WOOD GUARDS AND RIMS.
TIRES.
SADDLES.
TRICYCLES AND MULTICYCLES.
PRICES AND VALUES.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE BEVEL-GEAR CHAINLESS.
THE COLUMBIA CHAINLESS.
THE SPALDING CHAINLESS.
THE STEARNS CHAINLESS.
THE MONARCH CHAINLESS.
THE HUMBER CHAINLESS.
THE STERLING CHAINLESS.
THE DAYTON CHAINLESS.
THE BAYVELGERE CHAINLESS.
THE HILDICK CHAINLESS.
THE CRESCENT CHAINLESS.
THE CRAWFORD CHAINLESS.
THE DAYTON CHAINLESS.
THE FEATHERSTONE CHAINLESS.
SOME DEDUCTIONS.
THE PINE CHAINLESS.
THE “ENGLISH” CHAINLESS.
CHAINLESS EVOLUTION IN ENGLAND.
THE BANTAM CHAINLESS.
THE ACATENE CHAINLESS.
THE QUADRANT CHAINLESS.
THE LLOYD’S ROLLER-PIN GEAR.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE PRINCIPAL “SAFETY” TYPES.
MODES OF POWER TRANSMISSION.
THE STRESS OF THE CHAIN-PULL.
DEMANDS UPON CHAINLESS CONSTRUCTION.
THE PROBLEM OF “END-THRUST.”
THE PROBLEM OF EFFECT UPON BEARINGS.
EFFECT OF “SIDE-THRUST” UPON THE FRAME.
THE QUESTION OF THE GEAR TEETH.
THE CHARGES AGAINST THE CHAIN.
GEAR CASES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAINS.
THE OUTLOOK FOR THE CHAINLESS.
EFFECT OF THE CHAINLESS UPON THE CYCLE TRADE.
EVOLUTION IN THE TRADE.
JUVENILE BICYCLES.
LADIES BICYCLE FRAMES.
FRONT FORKS.
TUBE MAKING.
MAKING DROP FORGINGS.
SHEET STEEL PARTS.
CRESCENT SHEET STEEL PARTS.
THE CRANK HANGER.
BRAZING.
KANGAROO FRAME.
EXIT THE WOOD FRAME.
CLEANLINESS INSURED.
ITS OTHER ADVANTAGES.
LEADING ’98 GEAR CASES.
ORIGIN OF THE GEAR CASE.
ESSENTIAL QUALITIES.
OPERATION AND EVOLUTION OF THE CHAIN.
ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH CHAIN FRICTION.
THE BROWN ROLLER-SPROCKET.
VARIOUS ROLLER-CHAINS.
THE LINK FRICTION ON SPROCKET AND PIN.
THE REMINGTON CHAIN.
THE LIBERTY SPROCKET.
THE VICTOR STRAIGHT-LINE SPROCKET.
CHAIN BOLTS AND REPAIRS.
CHAIN ADJUSTMENTS.
THE “SUSPENSION” WHEEL.
CONSTRUCTION AND STRAINS OF HUB AND SPOKES.
THE WOOD WHEEL.
WOOD RIMS.
VARIOUS MAKES OF WOOD RIMS.
REPAIR TOOLS.
VULCANIZING.
EVOLUTION OF THE BEARING.
THE QUESTION OF “POINTS” OF CONTACT
HEEDLESS CONSTRUCTION.
BALL-MAKING.
THE “CUP” OR “DISK” ADJUSTMENT.
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN BEARINGS.
LUBRICATION AND DUST EXCLUSION.
SOME DISTINCTIVE 1898 FEATURES.
THE “DIVIDED AXLE.”
STRICT “ONE-PIECE” CONSTRUCTION.
CRANK THROW AND VARIABLE GEAR.
CRANK DROP AND CRANK THROW.
GEAR RATIO.
SHAPES OF CRANK AND SPROCKET.
EVOLUTION OF THE PEDAL.
ANKLE MOTION IN PEDALLING.
THE RAMSEY SWINGING PEDAL.
SAFETY SADDLES.
THE CHRISTY TYPE.
THE SAGER LINE.
THE MESINGER SADDLE.
THE GARFORD SADDLES.
THE GILLIAM LINE.
THE BROWN TYPE.
THE “UNIVERSAL” SADDLE.
THE HUNT SADDLES.
SUNDRY OTHER MAKERS.
IN GENERAL.
SEAT POSTS.
THE MODERN HANDLEBAR.
THE WOOD BAR.
GRIPS.
EVOLUTION OF THE BRAKE.
BRAKE OR NO BRAKE.
VARIOUS TIRE BRAKES.
AUTOMATIC REAR HUB BRAKES.
THE SPENCER BRAKES.
EVOLUTION OF THE LAMP.
THE SEARCHLIGHT.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
VARIOUS OTHER OIL LAMPS.
LAMP LIGHTERS.
LAMP BRACKETS.
ELECTRIC LAMPS.
THE KLONDIKE ELECTRIC
ACETYLENE GAS LAMPS.
CARBIDE LAMPS IN MARKET.
BELLS.
THE “BELL-BRAKE.”
TOE-CLIPS.
LUGGAGE CARRIERS.
AUXILIARY SEATS.
PARCEL CARRIERS.
OTHER ACCESSORIES.
LUBRICANTS.
FOOT PUMPS.
AN AUTOMATIC PUMP.
SOME CONSTANT FALLACIES.
THE LURE OF THE PATENT.
BUILDING “TO ORDER.”
“OLD WHEELS CUT DOWN.”
THE CRAZE FOR “DROP.”
TANDEM CONSTRUCTION OF THE YEAR.
EVOLUTION OF THE TANDEM.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS OF TANDEMS.
MULTICYCLES.
TRICYCLES.
EVOLUTION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE.
THE STEAM CARRIAGE.
AIR AS MOTIVE POWER.
ELECTRICITY AS POWER.
THE COLUMBIA ELECTRIC PHAETON.
OTHER ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THE GAS MOTOR.
