MONARCH CHAINLESS.
The ladies’ model is of the same general construction, excepting that the frame is of the double loop variety with a straight lower tube and a partially curved upper tube. It is exceedingly graceful in lines, and in general appearance as comely a model of the drop frame chainless wheel as any yet offered by American makers.
The gears on the crank axle and hub resemble in a degree the well-known sprocket wheels, the main difference, however, being the teeth, which are closer together and V-shaped in cross section, instead of four-sided. The driving shaft, which fits over the rear fork of the frame, as before described, is furnished at each end with a pinion having roller-pin teeth, which run in and out of the wide angle pinions between the gear teeth. It is claimed for this construction that, even should the frame become twisted out of line, there would be no binding of the gears. The makers also claim for it high efficiency on account of its direct lifting action as against the end thrust of the bevel-gear. Another argument made in its favor is that it is not of a delicate construction, though light in weight. There is, indeed, good authority for believing that this type of gear, which is a modification of [Lloyd’s pin-roller gear] as used on the quadrant in England, may become a popular one. Grant, the well-known authority on gears, says: “The pin gear is particularly valuable when the pins are made in the form of rollers, for then the minimum of friction is reached, the friction between the tooth and pin, otherwise a sliding friction at a line bearing is, with a roller-pin, a rolling friction. When properly made there is no form of tooth that is superior to the pin tooth.” The price of this chainless bicycle will be $100. It is furnished complete, with a neat case over the gears.
In the sample shown the transmitting shaft has eight rollers at each end. The wheel hub has thirteen of the V-shaped teeth; the large wheel on the crank shaft has thirty-seven, this wheel being ⅜-inch wide at the base of the teeth and overhanging somewhat on its inner side. The surfaces of the V-teeth are not quite flat, but have a slight twist in order to obtain a more smooth and rolling action. The frame is also peculiar at the driving-wheel. The usual slot is present, through which to remove and replace the wheel, but there is nothing resembling a chain-adjuster. The back stays are lapped and jointed just above the hub; the rear forks are also separable near the axle. The wheel being thus readily removed, the hollow revolving shaft can be slipped off the fork which it encloses. It is obvious that the teeth of these gears have great strength, and the contrivance is certainly ingenious.
THE HUMBER CHAINLESS.
The riders of Humber bicycles now have an opportunity of experimenting at comparatively small cost, because the makers of the Humber will convert an 1898 chain Humber into a [Humber Chainless] for $40, an 1897 for $50 and an 1896 for $65, or they will convert an 1898 Humber Chainless into a Humber chain cycle for $18 at any time during the season of 1898, should the buyer not be satisfied with the chainless, which is thought highly improbable, because the cycles they have made for testing purposes run easily and smoothly and have proven strong and durable under severe usage.
