COPYRIGHT BY
THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER ASS’N.
A. D. 1898.

THE MODERN BICYCLE
AND ITS
ACCESSORIES

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.

CHAPTER I.
EVOLUTION OF THE BICYCLE,
1816 TO 1899
The Year 1898 a Memorable One in Its History; Improvement in Quality, Reduction in Price, the Reincarnation of the Chainless, and the Abolition of the National Cycle Show—Tendencies Toward Fixity, and Reversion to Type—The Earliest Creations in Bicycle Construction and the Steady March Toward Improvement—A Brief Sketch of Development—Marked Characteristics and Changes Adopted with the Season of 1898.
[Pages 1-9]
CHAPTER II.
THE CHAINLESS WHEEL.
Its Advent Upon the American Market, After Long and Costly Experiments—The Various Methods Employed to Transmit Power—A Single Successful Foreign Wheel of This Type—The Bevel Gear, Spur Gear and Pin-Roller Gear—A Study of the Chainless Type, with Illustrations and Descriptions of Popular Models.
[Pages 10-27]
CHAPTER III.
CHAINLESS VS. CHAIN.
The Advantages Claimed for Each Compared—Summary of Early Attempts in “Safety” Types—Modes of Power Transmission—Demands Upon Chainless Construction—The Problems of End-Thrust and Side-Thrust—The Question of Strain Upon Bearings and Gear Teeth—Charges Brought Against the Chain Wheel—Effect of the Chainless Upon the Trade.
[Pages 28-36]
CHAPTER IV.
FRAME AND FORK CONSTRUCTION.
The Frame, Essentially a “Bridge Upon Wheels”—Evolution of Shape in Frames—Drop Forgings and Stampings—Flush Joints—Drop Frames—Juveniles—Styles of Forks and Crowns—How Tubing Is Made—The Adoption of Sheet-Steel Parts.
[Pages 37-52]
CHAPTER V.
CHAIN PROTECTION.
The Gear Case an English Device—Its Improved Construction in America—Its Practical Advantages—Various Styles Described.
[Pages 53-57]
CHAPTER VI.
THE CHAIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS.
A Greater Knowledge and Care of Chains Desirable—Evolution and Operation—Attempts to Reduce Chain Friction—Roller Sprockets and Roller Chains—Various Points and Kinds of Friction—The Several Types of Chain Now in Use—Improved Sprockets—Results of Actual Tests—Chain Adjusters—Chain Bolts and Repairs.
[Pages 58-66]
CHAPTER VII.
HUBS, SPOKES AND RIMS.
Improvements in Construction—The Suspension Wheel Described—Construction of Hubs and Spokes—The Strains to Which They Are Subjected—The Different Styles in Use—The Wood Wheel—Steel Rims and Wood Rims, with Some Popular Examples.
[Pages 67-73]
CHAPTER VIII.
EVOLUTION OF THE TIRE.
The Tire from 1888 to 1898—Solid, Cushion, Inner-Tube and “Hose-Pipe”—The Various Makes of Tire and Rim—Early Methods of Repair—Modern Repair Methods and Kits—Plugs, Patching, Strips and Vulcanizing—Some Valuable Hints to Riders.
[Pages 74-81]
CHAPTER IX.
THE BEARINGS.
The Great Improvement in Bicycle Bearings—Points of Contact—The Evil Results of Careless Construction and Assembling—Ballmaking—The Cup Adjustment and Its Advantages—Lubrication and Dust Exclusion—Methods in Bearings as Made in 1898.
[Pages 82-87]
CHAPTER X.
CRANKS, PEDALS AND AXLES.
The Early and Modern Hub—The Divided-Axle Mania—“One-Piece” Construction—Crank Throw and Variable Gear—Gear Ratio—Crank Drop—Shapes of Crank and Sprocket—Evolution of the Pedal and Axle—Ankle Motion and Its Advantages—The Ramsey Swinging Pedal.
[Pages 88-94]
CHAPTER XI.
THE SADDLE.
Until Late Years a Knotty Problem for Makers and Riders—Some Recent Improvements—Saddles and “Seats”—Use and Misuse of Springs—A Strictly Universal Saddle Impossible—Various Types and Makes—Wide Range of Choice—The Seat Post.
[Pages 95-102]
CHAPTER XII.
HANDLEBARS, GRIPS AND BRAKES.
Successive Modifications—Long vs. Short Bars—Wood Bars—Grips of Various Sorts—The Question of Brakes—Rear and Front Brakes—Back-Pedalling and Rear Brakes—The Spencer Brake.
[Pages 103-108]
CHAPTER XIII.
LAMPS AND LAMP BRACKETS.
Evolution of the Lamp—Excellence of the American Kerosene Lamp—Description of Various Makes—Electric Lamps—The New Carbide Illuminant—Descriptions of Carbide Lamps—Lamp Brackets.
[Pages 109-117]
CHAPTER XIV.
CYCLOMETERS AND OTHER SUNDRIES.
Early Cyclometers—Dial and Barrel Types—Various Styles of the Latter—Bells, Ringing by Tire Contact and Otherwise—Bell-Brakes—Toe-Clips—Luggage-Carriers—Children’s Seats—Pumps—Accessories and Novelties.
[Pages 118-125]
CHAPTER XV.
FREAKS AND USELESS DEVICES.
Constantly Recurring Fallacies—Weight for Obtaining Perpetual Motion—Some Examples of Vain Contriving—Examples of Patents Applied For—Building “To Order”—Cutting Down Frames—The “Drop” Craze.
[Pages 126-131]
CHAPTER XVI.
TANDEMS AND MULTICYCLES.
Increased Use of the Tandem—Tandem Evolution—Various Makes Described—Tricycles, Multicycles and Juvenile Tandems.
[Pages 132-138]
CHAPTER XVII.
MOTOR VEHICLES.
Bicycles and Tricycles—Evolution of the Motor Carriage—Air as Motive Power—Electricity in Actual Use—Various Electrical Vehicles Described—Gas Motors.
[Pages 139-143]

ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE BICYCLE—EARLY AND MODERN TYPES.
Page.
Draisine in action—1818[ 2]
“Boneshaker”—1868[ 3]
The “Ordinary”—1878[ 3]
Rear Driver—1893[ 5]
The “Rover”—1878[ 6]
Chainless type, 1898 (bevel-gear)[ 7]
Extreme type of 1898 Chain model, combining all late features[ 9]
CHAINLESS TYPES AND DRIVING GEAR.
Columbia Chainless[10]
Columbia Chainless—Mechanism and Frame[11]
Spalding Chainless[12]
Spalding Chainless—Driving Gear[13]
Stearns Chainless[13]
Monarch Chainless[14]
Humber Chainless[15]
Sterling Chainless—Crank Bracket[16]
Sterling Chainless—Connecting Shaft[16]
Bayvelgere Jointed Shaft[17]
Hildick Chainless Driving Gear[18]
Crescent Chainless—Driving Gear[19]
Featherstone “Change Gear” Chainless[20]
Featherstone Chainless Crank Hanger[21]
Dayton Chainless—Driving Gear[22]
Pine “Square-Tooth” Chainless[23]
“English” Chainless[24]
“English” Chainless—Driving Gear[25]
Bantam Chainless—1898[25]
Bantam Chainless—Driving Gear[26]
Acatene Chainless—Driving Gear[26]
Lloyd’s Cross Roller Driving Gear[27]
Geared Ordinary[27]
TYPES OF THE CHAIN WHEEL—MECHANISM AND OPERATION.
First Humber model[29]
Golden Era—Model[29]
Victor—First American Safety—1887[30]
Diagram—One-sided Chain Pull[31]
First Columbia Rear Driver—1888[32]
Defender Midget—1898[34]
Keating—Model[37]
Union—Model[37]
Victor—Model[38]
Liberty—Model[38]
Cygnet—Model[38]
Victor—Single Loop—Model[39]
Victor—Racquet Frame—1892[46]
Stearns—Model[46]
Cleveland—Model[47]
Kangaroo—Model[51]
FRAMES, FORK CROWNS AND JOINTS.
Three-Crown Frame[39]
Chilion Wood Frame[39]
Crescent Flush Joint[40]
Wolff-American Flush Joint[40]
Columbia Fork Crown[40]
Crescent Fork Crown[41]
Lyndhurst Fork Crown[41]
Arch Fork Crown[41]
Crawford Fork Crown[42]
Humber Fork Crown[42]
Monarch Fork Crown[43]
Orient Fork Crown[43]
Union Fork Crown[43]
Liberty Fork Crown[44]
World and Adlake Fork Crown[44]
Cleveland Fork Crown[45]
Eagle Drop-Forged Flush Joint[51]
Wolff-American Lapped Joint[47]
Remington Flush Joint[47]
Working Drawing—Diamond Frame model[49]
Working Drawing—Drop Frame model[50]
GEAR CASES.
Frost Gear Case[54]
Racycle Gear Case[54]
Safety Gear Case[55]
Rambler Gear Case[55]
Cleveland Gear Case[56]
SPROCKETS, CHAINS AND CHAIN ADJUSTERS.
Brown Roller Sprocket[58]
Chantrell Chain[58]
Keating Twin Roller Chain[59]
Types of English Chains[59]
Diamond “B” Chain[60]
Thames Twin Roller Chain[60]
Morse Roller Joint Chain[60]
Baldwin Detachable Chain[61]
Ewart Chain—1888[61]
Bridgeport Detachable Chain[61]
Liberty Sprocket[62]
Crescent Chain Adjuster[62]
Victor Chain Test—Diagram[63]
Wolff-American Chain Adjuster[64]
Crescent Chain and Bolt[64]
Lefevre Chain[64]
Circular Chain[65]
Remington Chain[65]
Missing Link[65]
Victor Straight-Line Sprocket[66]
Humber Chain Adjuster[66]
HUBS.
Crescent Hub[68]
Columbia Hub[68]
Keating Hub[69]
Sterling Hub[69]
Wolff-American Hub[69]
Cleveland Hub[70]
Liberty Hub[70]
RIMS, TIRES AND REPAIR TOOLS.
Plymouth Rim Joint[70]
Plymouth Rim[72]
Kundtz Rim[72]
Buckeye Rim[75]
“M. & W.” Tire[75]
Indian Arrow-Head Tire[76]
Dreadnaught Tire[77]
Straus Protected Tire[77]
Kangaroo Tire[78]
Goodrich “Jiffy” Repair Tool[79]
“Sure Thing” Repair Tool[80]
BEARINGS.
Old Double-Row Ball Bearing[83]
Lower Half of Double-Row Ball Bearing[83]
Four-Point Bearing[84]
Four-Point Bearing—“E. & D.” pattern[84]
Common Three-Point Bearing[86]
Three-Point Bearing—Improved[86]
Two-Point Bearing[87]
PEDALS.
Extension Pedals—American-Waltham[89]
Rat-Trap Pedal—American-Waltham[89]
Straus Removable Pedal Rubbers[89]
Ramsey Pedal[90]
Ordinary Pedal—“Clock” diagram[90]
Ramsey Pedal—“Clock” diagram[91]
CRANK AXLES AND CRANK HANGERS.
Crescent Crank Hanger, Stages 1 to 5[48]
Stearns Crank Hanger Mechanism[71]
Wolff-American Crank Axle[92]
Gard Crank and Divided Axle[93]
SADDLES.
Christy—Men’s model[96]
Christy—Women’s model[96]
Christy—Racing model[97]
Christy—View of under side[97]
Safety Poise[97]
“Rubber-Neck”[98]
Bernasco[98]
Garford—Model “128”[98]
Tillinghast—and Frame[99]
Dr. Richmond “Universal”[100]
Brown[100]
Gilliam—and Frame[101]
La Tulip[102]
HANDLEBARS AND BRAKES.
Kelly Adjustable Bar[103]
Plymouth Wood Bar[103]
Lyndhurst Adjustable Bar[104]
Barret’s Detachable Brake[104]
Detachable Rear Brake[105]
Stewart Roller Brake[105]
Back-Pedalling Brake (Hay & Willits)[106]
Back-Pedalling Brake (“New Departure”)[107]
Duck’s Roller Brake[107]
LAMPS AND LAMP BRACKETS.
Bridgeport Searchlight (oil)[110]
Twentieth Century (oil)[110]
“M. & W.” (Mathews & Willard) (oil)[110]
Bragger (oil)[111]
Columbia (oil)[111]
“X Rays” (oil)[111]
Manhattan Brass Co. product (oil)[112]
Acme (electric)[114]
Klondike (oil)[114]
Solar (carbide)—Interior view[115]
Electro (carbide)[115]
Electro—Interior view[116]
Helios (carbide)[116]
Calcium King (carbide)[117]
Combination Bracket[113]
U. S. Detachable Bracket[113]
CYCLOMETERS.
Twentieth Century Cyclometer[118]
Veeder Cyclometer[118]
Shepherd Cyclometer[119]
Standard Cyclometer[119]
New Departure Cyclometer[119]
Trump Cyclometer[120]
BELLS.
Lord Bell[120]
Bevin Bell[120]
L. A. W. Bell[121]
Combination Bell and Brake[121]
TOE CLIPS. CARRIERS AND SUNDRIES.
Howard Toe Clip[122]
Combination Toe Clip[122]
Kalamazoo Carrier[123]
Lamson Carrier[123]
Fairy Child’s Seat[123]
“Ideal” Foot Pump[124]
Lubricants—“Pacemaker” and “Three in One”[124]
FREAKS AND ODD INVENTIONS.
Weight Driven Model[126]
The “Sweeper” Idea[127]
A Notion of 1881[128]
Mahoney’s Model, 1893[129]
A “Dream” Motor[130]
Wind Driven Model[130]
MULTICYCLES.
Stearns Septuplet[132]
Stearns Convertible Tandem[133]
Tinkham Tricycle[133]
Wolff-American Triplet[134]
Cleveland Tandem[135]
Wolff-American Tandem[135]
Tinkham Cab[136]
Andrae Tandem[136]
“Oriten”[136]
Wolff-American Duplex[137]
Tinkham Carrier[138]
MOTOR VEHICLES.
Motor Tricycle[140]
Pope Electric Phaeton[141]
Pope Electric Phaeton, under test[143]
Bicycle with Motor Attachment[142]