The Modern Bicycle And Its Accessories by A Schwalbach and J Wilcox

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Title: The Modern Bicycle and Its Accessories

Author: Anonymous

Release Date: December 9, 2018 [EBook #58444]

Language: English

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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.

Advertisements.

Advertisement.

Advertisement.

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

[Pg xiv]

PREFACE.

To the Cyclist who appreciates the advantage of understanding his wheel, its mechanism and its construction, for the

same reason and because of the same interest felt by a horseman in his roadster, an engineer in his locomotive, or a
yachtsman in his boat, the following pages can scarcely fail to be of interest and value.

Bicycles without number have been consigned to the scrap heap or discarded for new mounts, as the result of

abuse and the lack of proper care, due solely to the ignorance of riders as to a wheel’s construction and requirements,
while disappointments have resulted, in many instances, because the same lack of knowledge has prevented the wise
selection of a well constructed and properly adjusted mount at the outset.

A bicycle can no more be expected to run smoothly without a proper adjustment of its parts and their maintenance

in perfect running condition than can any other piece of machinery, and while the chain and chainless productions of
1898 are admirable for their simple mechanism, such points as the bearings and running gear require periodical
inspection and attention to insure satisfactory service. This cannot be adequately given by a rider who has no
conception as to the details of construction of his machine, and so it frequently happens that a bicycle sinks into an early
grave because its rider persists in calling upon it for continued service, while utterly indifferent to its construction and
requirements.

“Know thy wheel” is an excellent maxim for every rider to follow; for those who heed it the matter of emergency

repair will be a simple thing, a smooth running wheel will be assured, the chance of accident reduced to the minimum,
and the life of the machine extended throughout its fullest period. It is partly with a view to bringing about a better
acquaintance between the average rider and his wheel that the following pages are presented.

To the bicycle manufacturer and to the repair man and dealer—who are frequently called upon for advice and

service concerning any and all makes of wheels—to the student of cycle construction, and to the mechanical expert, the
volume will scarcely fail to be regarded as a valuable reference book for many years to come.

The idea of presenting to riders—through the columns of “The Commercial Advertiser”—an illustrated description

of the lines, parts and improvements of the bicycle for 1898 was conceived chiefly because of the absence during the
winter of 1897-98 of a National Cycle Show. Just prior to the opening of preceding seasons tens of thousands of riders
throughout the country were able to see at the annual shows, and at those held under the auspices of the various local
cycle trade organizations, all that the maker had to offer in changes and improvements for the new year. This
opportunity was also furthered by the columns of descriptive matter published by the daily press and cycle trade
journals in their reports of these shows and their exhibits. Riders were to have none of these advantages for the season
of 1898, however, and “The Commercial Advertiser” accordingly began the work of collecting and presenting the
information which appeared in its columns in serial form during February, March and April of 1898, and which is now
presented in this volume.

It is not claimed that all of the new features and changes evolved by the master mechanics of the cycle building

industry have been embodied. It is believed, however, that none having an important bearing upon, or any way likely to
cause material changes in, the methods of bicycle construction have been overlooked. Further than this, the gradual
processes through which these changes and improvements have been evolved are shown throughout the periods of
distinct advancement, also those of reversion, as they have followed, one upon the other, until the present state of the
industry is reached, and its product set forth as the most advanced, from every standpoint, in the history of bicycle
building.

Likewise the progress and improvement made in the manufacture of tires, saddles, lamps, bells, brakes, and the

many other articles common to the well-equipped modern bicycle, have received careful attention, with the result that
the work of presenting this amount of information to the readers of “The Commercial Advertiser” has, we believe, been
as complete and thorough as it has been practicable to make it.

THE PUBLISHERS.

[Pg xv]

[Pg xvi]

NAMES OF THE PARTS OF A BICYCLE.

1. Handles or grips.
38. Rear mud guard.

2. Handle bar.
39. Mud guard stays, arms or braces.

3. Handle bar stem.
40. Front hub.

4. Fork crown.
41. Rear, or back hub.

5. Fork side.
42. Top head cup.

6. Lamp bracket.
43. Bottom head cup.

7. Handle bar clamp, binder, or “pinch bind.” 44. Step.
8. Brake lever.
45. Head lock-nut.

9. Brake joint and screw.
46. Chain adjuster.

10. Brake rod or plunger.
47. Pedals.

11. Brake collars and screws.
48. Pedal end plate.

12. Brake tube.
49. Pedal side plate.

13. Brake spoon.
50. Pedal axle, or spindle, and centre tube.

14. Head.
51. Head adjusting cone.

15. Upper, horizontal or top tube.
52. Outside, or small, pedal nut.

16. Lower, head to bracket, tube.
53. Inside, or large, pedal nut.

17. Seat mast, diagonal, or saddle-post tube.
54. Saddle, seat or L post or pillar.

18. Rear or back stays.
55. Arm or top piece of pillar.

19. Rear or back forks.
56. Saddle.

20. Head lugs or connections.
57. Saddle adjusting screw.

21. Saddle post frame—connection or cluster. 58. Saddle spring.
22. Saddle post clamp or binder, bolt and nut. 59. Saddle clamp or clip.
23. Rear or back fork-end.
60. Brake spring.

24. Crank hanger or bottom bracket.
61. Rear axle nut.

25. Chain—Humber or block pattern.
62. Valves.

26. Rear or small sprocket or chain wheel.
63. Hub oil cup.

27. Front, or large sprocket or chain wheel.
64. Crank hanger, or bottom bracket, oil cup.

28. Crank axle, shaft or spindle.
65. Sprocket wheel tooth.

29. Cranks.
66. Braces, stays or bridges of rear frame.

30. Crank key, or cotter pin.
67. Brake guide.

31. Front, or steering, wheel.
68. Mud guard clip.

32. Rear, or driving, wheel.
69. Coaster or foot rest.

33. Tires.
70. Fork stem or neck tube.

34. Rims.
71. Centre block of chain.

35. Spokes.
72. Side plate.

36. Spoke nipples.
73. Chain rivet.

37. Front mud guard.
74. Front fork.

[Pg 1]