Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Notes:

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_
in the original text.
Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs.
Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved.
Typographical errors have been silently corrected but other variations
in spelling and punctuation remain unaltered.

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.

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