ITS OTHER ADVANTAGES.
To sum up the advantages of the enclosed chain model as demonstrated by the experience of riders during 1897 with a gear case attached to their cycles (the latter comprising almost every make of bicycle in this country), riders have found that a gear case:
First—Actually excludes dust, driving rain, mud and all foreign matter, keeping the chain, sprockets and the bearing absolutely clean, meaning an easy running bicycle, always ready for service, and requiring no attention to the running gear for an entire season.
Second—Its use allows the bicyclist to ride in business costume, it being impossible for the chain to soil the trousers, and there being no danger of catching the clothing between the chain and sprocket. This feature also strongly recommends it to lady riders.
Third—The bicycle is always ready for service. This is an important matter with many people, especially those who use the bicycle every day for business purposes.
Fourth—It adds to the appearance of the bicycle, giving a style and finish impossible with the dirty chain and sprocket in view.
Fifth—By reason of its construction, it is practically noiseless, the most important feature to cyclists.
Sixth—It transforms the bicycle from an article of luxury useable only under certain conditions, to a practical vehicle useable under every condition of the road and weather.
Seventh—It has been found of great value by military cyclists, as it enables troops to move with twice the celerity possible under the ordinary open chain, to say nothing of the time saved in not having to clean the gear.
RACYCLE GEAR CASE.
At the ’97 Cycle Show, held in Chicago, an American gear case was exhibited for the first time, and this exhibit was noted with a great deal of satisfaction by all the mechanical writers of the cycle trade press, who had long labored, written and talked a great deal for this desirable accessory. Among the gear cases exhibited at Chicago at that time was one invented by [W. H. Frost] of New York City; another by S. D. Childs & Co., and another by H. Lauter of Indianapolis. The makers of the Ben Hur showed a model fitted with what they called the Wainwright gear case. The Stearns Company also had a gear case attached to one of their models, and a Falcon exhibited was also provided with one. The makers of the Cleveland showed a gear case of their own production, and a Wolff-American was shown fitted with a Blumel celluloid gear case, but this last was of English manufacture. Since that time a careful census of all the catalogues that the makers have sent out this year shows that nearly every cycle maker of prominence has arranged sufficient clearance at the crank shaft and rear wheel so that a gear case of some kind can be fitted to it, and a few of the makers are turning out gear cases of their own, the notable ones being the makers of the [Racycle], [Rambler], [Cleveland], Humber and Aluminum, and there are three makers of gear cases who supply them to the trade, these being known as the Frost, Centliver and [Safety gear cases].