The Modern Bicycle and Its Accessories

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.

Clyx.com

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