THE LIBERTY SPROCKET.
The Liberty makers have brought out a sprocket with a change in the form of the teeth which is so slight that it hardly shows in a cut and is not even noticed on the bicycle itself at a careless glance. The change consists in cutting down most of the teeth in height and thickness, so that only each fifth tooth acts in the driving, the intermediate teeth serving only as guides to keep the chain in track.
Concerning the new sprocket, the makers say: “The old method of having each and every sprocket tooth engage the chain has been abandoned by us, the friction occasioned by so much contact being unnecessary, and the wear and strain on the chain intensified. Our new sprocket has been tested under all conditions with the most satisfactory results. It permits a chain to run as smoothly covered with mud and dust as it does when thoroughly lubricated, and the cracking noise so prevalent when an ordinary sprocket is used on muddy roads is entirely absent. The ease of propulsion is marked (particularly noticeable in hill-climbing) and enables the rider to attain speed instantly and with the highest gear. With this improved sprocket the rider can use with ease a gear considerably higher than he could attempt with sprockets of the ordinary pattern.”
THE VICTOR STRAIGHT-LINE SPROCKET.
The Victor straight-line sprocket is peculiar in the shape of the teeth or in the shape of the spaces between the teeth. On the back side of each tooth on the front sprocket and the front side of each tooth on the rear sprocket a space is hollowed out, as shown in the cut. Ordinarily, each block and each pair of side-plates or links is deflected from a straight line when wrapped around the sprocket; but on this sprocket, as will be seen, each block and adjacent pair of side-plates form a straight line. The joints at E—E and F—F do not touch the sprocket, as it is cut away beneath them. As those portions of the chain are always in a straight line, no motion is produced in the joints there, the effect of the change being to greatly lessen friction, especially under trying conditions.
VICTOR CHAIN TEST.