The "Indispensable" Bicyclist's Handbook
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Citation
Henry Sturmey. The "Indispensable" Bicyclist's Handbook. 1881. cyclearchive.com, https://cyclearchive.com/books/the-indispensable-bicyclists-handbook-h-sturmey-1881/
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Contents
- Sturmey introduces the fourth annual edition of the Indispensable, dated Coventry, August 1881, saying he has dropped a large number of obsolete bicycle parts (listed at the end) to make room for this season's novelties.
- Surveys the season's changes: rubber cushioning to bearings, spring ends and handles, new rear fork arrangements, and makers converging on direct spokes, ball bearings, long handle-bars, double lever spoon brakes and detachable cranks; notes the growth of clubs, the Bicycle Union, the Bicycle Touring Club (nearly 4000 members), Cortis's racing, the American L.A.W. with 1000 members and the French U.V.F.
- Opens Section I by describing the bicycle as two parts, wheels and frame, of 150 to 300 pieces of metal, and begins with the india-rubber tyres, their colour and thickness; covers Grout's indestructible vulcanised tyres, the mechanically fixed tyre, Sparrow's leather tyre and Hancock's patent non-slipping tyres.
- Describes solid and hollow rims: the Potential or fluted felloe, strongest of the solid kinds, and hollow rims including the Club Hollow Felloe, the Invincible double-section rim and the three-part Humber Hollow Rim.
- Explains how a wheel is trued and the spokes act as stays, then compares nutted spokes with nipples, lock-nutted and direct-action spokes (the best butt-ended), setting out the arguments for and against each.
- Describes the hub's axle, collars and gun-metal flanges, their dish and spoke holes; covers Hughes detachable hubs, Bagshaw's patent hub, Carver's hollow spokes, Palmer's safety nipples, Stassen's screwless spokes, Starley's safety wheel and the interlocking hub.
- Explains why rigid wheels are made, since the hub partly turns before power reaches the rim in ordinary wheels, and describes the constructions that overcome it, ending with Wood's narrow wheel.
- Describes fixed cranks secured with a key and the detachable crank invented to avoid the loose key, including Hughes' patent detachable crank and Hillman's patent crank.
- Surveys rubber and rat-trap pedals and patent grips, among them Settle's, Simpson's combined pedal, Butler's pedal slipper, Garrood's grip pedal, Andrews', Granger's and Hancock's, then ball pedals (Bown's, Rudge's, Harrington's Arab, Hillman's), Carver's and the Coventry Machinists' safety pedals and Mothersill's detachable pedal.
- Explains the aim of minimum friction and divides bearings into simple and compound; describes plain, coned and parallel bearings, including Whitehouse's self-lubricating bearing and Warman's double-circle thrust bearing.
- Describes roller bearings, ordinary and patent: Hughes' adjustable rollers, Plowright's registered dust-proof bearing, Gribbin's cone, Sibert's self-lubricating rollers, Gadsby's Northampton rollers, Starley's frictionless rollers; ends by introducing balls.
- Describes double ball bearings and their varieties: Humber's, Hillman's, Palmer's adjustable, Singer's united bearing, Rudge's unequalled ball bearing, Whitehouse's and Green's.
- Treats bearings for the back wheel, which must be easily and quickly adjusted: single and fixed cones, Brazier's cones, Hughes' rollers, and the ball bearings of Down, Rudge, Whitehouse, Carver and Palmer, the Stanley and the Atalanta.
- Turns to the framework and the front forks: hollow tubular forks, the Stanley section, the Acme section and the Arab sheet-steel forks; also Gribbin's double tubular fork, Hillman's patent and the back-fork rubber springs of Porter, Micklewright and Gladwin, Palmer and Wood.
- Compares socket steering with the centre-steering heads (Stanley, Humber) and describes patent heads: Starley's reciprocating head, Hillman's patent head, the self-adjusting Stanley head, Swindley's central pin steering and the new Arab steering.
- Discusses the handle-bar and bracket, fixed against revolving bars, and adjustable and patent forms: Simpson's adjustable handle, Starley's universally adjustable bar, Mothersill's swivelling handles and Palmer's non-vibrating handles.
- Describes handles of horn, spherical and detachable pattern, and Palmer's non-vibrating handles.
- Describes the backbone, its sections and joints to neck and back fork, including Simpson's fluted backbone, Hughes' patent neck, Keen's extended backbone and Smith's weldless backbone.
- Explains that a bad spring makes riding uncomfortable and that it should be pliant to the rider's weight, then describes the roller spring (once the favourite) and the sliding spring, with patterns by Settle, Humber (helical), Carver, Patrick, Sargent (Atalanta), Palmer, Ash (Leader), the Queen spring and the Arab cradle spring.
- Covers the saddle: Mothersill's patent safety saddle, Lamplugh and Brown's suspension saddle, the Arms Company's, Woolley's spring saddle, Jones' rolling saddle, Carver's non-slipping saddle, Fox's metallic saddle-block and the Centaur moveable saddle.
- Describes the mounting step and its adjustable forms by Hughes, Hillman, Rucker, Settle and the Centaur company.
- Explains that a roadster needs a brake and compares back-wheel and front-wheel brakes, spoon and thumb brakes, the double lever spoon, and patents by Simpson, Stassen (eccentric), Timberlake (ratchet), Ash (Leader) and Grout (vertical).
- Describes foot-rests, folding and projecting, and the Centaur detachable foot-rest.
- Opens the accessories with the wrench or spanner, including the Coventry Machinists' handy wrench, Bown's patent wrench and Brazier's direct spoke tightener.
- Describes the oil-can, the common Goodenough pattern and Bown's pneumatic oil-can.
- Describes lubricators for the bearings, including Bown's spring-cap lubricators, and the saddle valise or pouch, with Brown's handy bag, the cyclists' wallet, Lamplugh and Brown's Serviceable Multum, Spurrier's bag and Goy's luggage carrier.
- Introduces the signals required by the Local Government Board bye-laws, bells and gongs, continuous or silenceable: the spherical bell, Challis Bros. white metal and stop bells, Matthews' butterfly alarum, Harrison's alarums, Stormont's and Grout's wheel alarum, and a 2-in. bell.
- Briefly covers whistles, bugles and horns as signals, noting that a bugle's sound is noticed more than a bell or whistle but is heavy to carry.
- Describes lamps, from handle lamps to hub lamps: Dearlove's head and hub lamps, Cooper's inextinguishable hub lamp, the Eclipse hub lamp (the Queen of Lamps), the Won't Go Out lamp and Salsbury's patent wick holder.
- Describes instruments that record distance from the driving wheel: Wilkinson's Distanceometer, Thompson's cyclometer, Johnson's road measure, Stanton's bicycle log, Carey's cyclometer and Walker's trocheameter.
- Describes stands that hold the bicycle upright: Harrison's, Lee's folding stand, Wicksteed's, Porter's Simplex, Beach's and the Coventry Machinists' stand.
- Closes Section I with Starley's wheel washer, Phillips's tyre binders, the Toledo powder for cleaning bright parts, Harrington's enamel and Halliwell's cyclist's shoe, and refers readers to the addenda for later improvements.
- Opens Section II, explaining that machines are described by town in alphabetical order, with specification, specialities, prices (for painted machines unless stated) and the compiler's remarks, and defining the abbreviations G.M. (gunmetal) and D.L.S. (double-lever spoon) and the spoke gauge.
- Bedford: The Bedford, the town's one maker and one machine; specification and prices, called a strong average roadster with no specialities.
- Birmingham: The Aeolus, Elite and Rover bicycles, described with specification and prices; the Aeolus and Elite are called serviceable and reliable, the Rover roughly made but strong for beginners.
- Birmingham: The Alpha No. 1, Alpha No. 2 and Alpha Racer, all made on the interchangeable principle; the compiler calls the Racer a very fine machine sent out plated all over.
- Birmingham: The Antivibration, designed to overcome the vibration of rough roads, and the Interchangeable Racer and Roadster; the Racer is called first-rate and largely used for racing in the Midlands.
- Birmingham: The Barwell bicycle, sold bright or painted as a roadster or racer, with specification and prices.
- Birmingham: The Birmingham No. 1 and No. 2, machines chiefly made to order; the compiler rates them fair and roughly put together.
- Birmingham: The Electric, with no specialities but well made and finished throughout.
- Birmingham: The Endurance and Endurance Racer; the Racer is finished all bright and called a good machine.
- Birmingham: The Exact, with specification, extras and prices.
- Birmingham: The Handsworth Nos. 1 to 4; No. 1 is half plated and picked out with gold, called a genuine and thoroughly well-made roadster, and No. 2 a sound strong roadster.
- Birmingham: The Hawk No. 1, Hawk No. 2 and Hawk Special; No. 1 is warranted by the maker for twelve months, No. 2 soundly made and strong with a neat exterior.
- Birmingham: The Raleigh and the Unique, with specification and prices; the Unique is called a fair roadster.
- Birmingham: The Royal Mail, built of best material on the interchangeable principle and sent out japanned and ornamented; called a very good machine.
- Birmingham: The San Spareil Nos. 1 and 2; No. 1 is a first-class, highly finished machine coming to the fore as a racer, No. 2 a sound strong roadster.
- Birmingham: The Special and Standard; the Standard is called sound and reliable, with good work and material, and hollow forks and ball bearings are offered as extras.
- Brighton: The Brighton Superb, with bright parts plated and the rest painted black and gold, called a cheap machine; the town makes little but has a flourishing agency trade.
- Brighton: The Tourist, with specification, extras and prices.
- Brighton: The Universal, a strong, well-made machine with no specialities.
- Bristol: The Carlton, a sound, strong, well-built machine fit for all sorts of road work.
- Bristol: The Bristol, a fair machine for the money that may be depended upon.
- Bristol: The Clifton, with all working parts properly hardened; the compiler thinks it ought to be a wider favourite and few are superior at the price.
- Calne: The Progress and Special Progress, the single maker of Calne in Wiltshire; the Special is a strong, neatly finished roadster making a fine light one.
- Cardiff: The Cambrian Nos. 1 to 3, Special Cambrian, Special Cambrian Racer, Boy's Cambrian and Youth's Cambrian, the single firm representing Welsh manufacture; the Cambrian is strongly made with wearing parts case hardened.
- Cheltenham: The Victoria, the town's one machine, called sound and strong.
- Colchester: The Great Eastern Nos. 1 and 2, the town's one firm; No. 1 is made entirely on the premises, No. 2 built to order.
- Coventry: The Artizan's, Coventry Triumph Nos. 1 and 2, Hollow Fork Special Triumph, Rival Triumph and Youth's Triumph; the Rival is built on the lines of the Rudge, the Artizan's is a new cheap machine for beginners.
- Coventry: The British Challenge (the firm's speciality for the season, 16 pounds 10s to 19 pounds), Imperial Challenge, People's Challenge, Royal Challenge and Special Challenge; the Imperial is called Messrs. Singer's chief pattern last season, and the Special Challenge a former favourite still useful for rough parts of the country.
- Coventry: The Centaur No. 3, D.F.H.F. Centaur (double fluted hollow fork), Special Centaur No. 1 and Special Hollow Fork Centaur No. 2; the hollow fork machine is called the company's speciality, strong, rigid and elegant.
- Coventry: The Club, Club Racer, New Gentleman's, Special Club and Boy's Own; the Club Racer is cut out for a racer or light roadster, and no deviations from standard patterns are made for anyone.
- Coventry: The Coventry Perfection No. 3, Coventry Perfection Hollow Fork and Special Hollow Fork Coventry Perfection, the firm formerly Bayliss, Timms & Co.; sound and well suited to beginners and all-round work.
- Coventry: The Coventry Star, sent out with head, neck, handles and spring plated, and the Special, strong with wearing parts well hardened.
- Coventry: The Coventry Zephyr, from the new Zephyr Bicycle and Tricycle Co.; workmanship and material of the best quality and a good roadster.
- Coventry: The D.H.F. Premier, Premier No. 0, S.H.F. Premier and Boy's Premier; the D.H.F. is called very highly finished and genuine, and the S.H.F. differs only in head and forks.
- Coventry: The Duplex Excelsior hollow fork racer, roadster and semi-racer, Excelsior Nos. 1 to 3, Stanley Excelsior hollow fork machines and Our Boy's Excelsior; the firm has extended its premises, and the Duplex hollow fork racer is noted on grass courses.
- Coventry: The Grand and the Settle; the firm entered the trade last season and the Grand's bright parts are plated, called reliable in material and workmanship.
- Coventry: The Queen, a very fine light machine sent out nickel-plated all over except the rims at no extra charge.
- Coventry: The Rudge, called a finely finished, handsome machine eminent as a racer; both the one-mile professional championships of England and the World for 1881 were won on one. Rudge & Co., late of Wolverhampton, are now incorporated with the Tangent and Coventry Tricycle Co.
- Croydon: The Crown Nos. 1 to 3 and Special Crown; Croydon, long known for the trade, has only two small makers left.
- Croydon: The Paradigm, a very fair article, from Croydon's second maker.
- Derby: The Rawson Racer and Rawson Roadster, from one of Derby's two makers; the Roadster is a well-made, neat and handsome machine.
- Fakenham: The Special Hollow Fork, called the first machine on which the hollow fork was regularly applied, and the Special Lancaster, strong and sound; Fakenham is described as the home of the hollow fork.
- Great Bridge: The Favourite, the one machine of Great Bridge in Staffordshire, highly finished all bright and built to purchasers' orders.
- Horsham: The Granville, Special Granville and Youth's Granville, the Horsham maker's three machines, with specification and prices.
- King’s Lynn: The Lynn Express and Lynn Express No. 2, with Plowright's registered dust-proof roller bearings; No. 2 is strong and cheap. The first model was used by Coston and Smythe on their 205-mile day ride.
- King’s Lynn: The Sandringham, strongly made, well fitted and finished.
- Leicester: The Emperor Nos. 1 and 2 and the Emperor Racer; the Racer is one of the lightest made, finished all bright, and local makes are much in vogue on the Leicester racing paths.
- Leicester: The Fox and the Leicester; the Fox is finished all bright and called high class, reliable and improved for this season.
- Leicester: The Leicester Defiance Nos. 1 to 3, with specification and prices; No. 2 is called a fair strong machine, No. 3 strong and cheap.
- Leicester: The Star Nos. 1 to 3 and Youth's Star, thoroughly well made and all bright, the last a useful toy.
- Liverpool: The Peerless, Racing Peerless and Special Peerless, the one maker of Liverpool, the Peerless handsome and strong as a roadster.
- London: The A B C Nos. 1 to 3 and the XX; No. 2 is similar to No. 1 with hollow forks, plated head and blued spring, and No. 3 has all bright parts plated and is elaborately got up.
- London: The Antelope, a sound machine suited to general work and warranted by the maker.
- London: The Arab, light and elegant and coated all over with Harrington's enamel, well finished and built with great care.
- London: The Ashton, well put together of sound material and fit for touring and all-round work.
- London: The Atalanta Nos. 1 and 2 and Special Atalanta; the Special is soundly made and strong, well suited for a rough roadster.
- London: The Belgravia, finished all bright in good style.
- London: The Birkbeck Nos. 1 and 2; No. 2 is a good semi-racer and light roadster.
- London: The Champion and Special Champion, finished all bright or painted.
- London: The Celerrima Nos. 1 to 3 and Special Celerrima; No. 1 is a well-made machine highly suited for touring.
- London: The City and City No. 2; No. 2 is called a sound, strong machine.
- London: The Clapham and the Victoria, both sound and strong, from a Clapham Common maker.
- London: The Climax, a finely got up light and elegant machine, and the Hollow Forked Britannia, strongly made and serviceable, from the Romford works.
- London: Barker's Criterion, made at Kingston-on-Thames, with specification, extras and prices.
- London: Leach's Criterion, a Camberwell-made bicycle bearing the same name as Barker's, with specification and prices.
- London: The Desideratum, light, strong and very well made.
- London: The Hollow Fork Tourist, Hollow Forked Traveller, Tourist and Traveller Nos. 1 and 2, made to order and in proportion to the rider with no fixed rules.
- London: The Invincible Racer and Invincible Roadster; Cortis did his wonderful times on the Racer, and the Roadster is called one of the most rigid machines in the market.
- London: The Nonpareil, extremely strong and A1 for heavy weights and long-distance men, much improved this season.
- London: The Nonsuch and Special Nonsuch, from the South London Machinists' Co.; specification and prices only.
- London: The Norwood, Norwood No. 2 and Norwood Racer; the Norwood is a very fine roadster, well and strongly made.
- London: The Period Nos. 1 and 2, with specification and prices.
- London: The Pioneer, University and Wanderer; the Pioneer is a light, strong machine for road and path, new this year.
- London: The Royal, patronised by H.R.H. Prince Albert Victor of Wales and named for him; a sound genuine machine.
- London: The Rucker, newly introduced, highly finished and an admirable roadster.
- London: The Special Hollow Fork Uneclipsed and the Uneclipsed, the latter soundly made and serviceable.
- London: The Special Swan, with specification and prices.
- London: The Tension and Special Tension; the Special is a good well-built steed that can be built lighter for racing.
- London: The Standard, finished bright or painted, called sound and well constructed; Wheaton is one of the oldest in the trade.
- London: The Stanhope, of fair workmanship and good appearance.
- London: The Volante and Volante No. 2, well made, with a discount for cash.
- London: The Will-o'-the-Wisp Nos. 1 and 2, made of good material and a sound reliable roadster.
- London: The Zephyr, with specification and prices.
- Maidenhead: The Berkshire, London and Pilot, the only maker at Maidenhead, who turns out only sound work; the Pilot is the firm's latest introduction.
- Maldon: The Unique, the one pattern made at Maldon, finished burnished or japanned and well suited for road work.
- Manchester: Clarke Nos. 1 and 2, a first-class machine sold net cash with no agents, hence the low figure.
- Manchester: The European and the Flying Prince, warranted for two years and well built with several novelties.
- Manchester: The Hanover Nos. 1 to 3; the machines are called thoroughly well built and sound for all-round road work and touring.
- Manchester: The Manchester Express Nos. 1 to 5 and Manchester Special Express, with specification, extras and prices.
- Manchester: The Skinner, a very well sent out, strong, carefully made and reliable article.
- Mansfield: The Albert, Defiance Hollow Fork and Special Tubular Defiance (S.T.D.), the one Mansfield firm's three machines of a light order.
- Newcastle-on-Tyne: The Northern and the Northern Racer, sent out in a very complete manner; the Racer is largely used on northern tracks, and 202 miles have been ridden on one in fourteen hours.
- Northampton: The Northampton, Northampton No. 2, Northampton Special and Boy's Own, the one maker's four machines containing sound material.
- Nottingham: The Carver (Class 4), Hollow Spoke Roadster (Class 1) and Tourists' Hollow Spoke, a firm that has built a fine new factory; the Tourists' is a first-class roadster sent out burnished all over.
- Nottingham: The Humber Racer and Humber Roadster; the amateur championships of 1881 were won on the Racer, ridden by many crack racing men.
- Nottingham: The Imperial and Imperial Racer, light, strong, well finished and rapidly gaining favour.
- Nottingham: The Robin Hood, with specification and prices.
- Nottingham: The Swift, a well-made, strong and reliable light roadster.
- Portsmouth: The Leader, Southsea Leader and Special Leader, the Portsmouth maker's machines; the Special is a first-class machine relied on for comfort and durability.
- Rainhill: The Lancashire A, B and C and the Lancashire Hollow Fork Roadster; the A is built for rough Lancashire roads, and C is not so well finished as B.
- Runcorn: The Reliance, Runcorn's one machine, with specification and prices.
- Sheffield: The Axiom and Sheffield Nos. 1 to 3; the Axiom is very cheap and No. 2 a cheap, sound machine.
- Sheffield: The Chester Registered, Marmion, Original Chester, Original Stanley and Stanley Registered, the Wicker firm that fitted the Stanley fork section to a Stanley head; the Stanley Registered is a finely built, fast, light machine.
- Sheffield: The Dart Nos. 1 to 3, sound and strong machines.
- Sheffield: The Electric, a sound, well-built roadster, nicely finished and reliable.
- Sheffield: The Hallamshire Nos. 1 to 3, with specification, extras and prices.
- Sittingbourne: The Emperor Nos. 1 and 2 and King of the Road; the King of the Road is a reliable and genuine roadster with wearing parts thoroughly hardened.
- Sittingbourne: The Imperial Kent Defiance, Special Hollow Fork Invicta, Special Invicta No. 0 and Special Kent Defiance; the Imperial Kent Defiance is highly finished and well put together.
- Smethwick: The Hollow Fork Aeolus, the one pattern of Smethwick's single maker, with specification and prices.
- Surbiton: John Keen's Eclipse, noted as a novelty in bicycle construction now on the market, but the compiler had not yet been able to obtain particulars; Keen always rides one himself.
- Surbiton: The Precursor, a substantial genuine machine from Surbiton's second maker.
- Trowbridge: The King of the Road, M.P., Royal Leopold, Single Hollow Fork and Ten Guinea, the Trowbridge maker's five varieties; the Royal Leopold is the leading machine of the firm, warranted for two years.
- West Bromwich: The Captain's, Clubman's and Serviceable, three brands from the West Bromwich maker in place of one; the Captain's is sent out plated all over.
- Wokingham: The Touring, the only two-wheeler of Mr. Butler of Wokingham, famed for the Omnicycle; a sound, reliable machine suitable for all-round work and touring.
- Wolverhampton: The Advance Nos. 2 to 4, Alert, Special Hollow Fork Advance and Boy's Advance; some are sold at a very low figure, and No. 4 is among the cheapest listed.
- Wolverhampton: The Auto, Demo and Rego; the Demo is called a most complete machine for the money.
- Wolverhampton: The Best-of-All, Clarence and Sankey's Special No. 0 (Blakenhall), with specification and prices; the Clarence is bright or japanned and strong.
- Wolverhampton: The Best-of-All, Excelsior and Forester, the Wolverhampton firm of W. Ford & Co.; the Excelsior is called most complete at the price.
- Wolverhampton: The Climax, Cogent, Cogent No. 2, Wonder and Youth's Cogent with Juvenile Cogent; Clarke does a large trade in parts and sundries.
- Wolverhampton: The Commercial Nos. 1 and 2 and Special Commercial, a very completely got up and fairly constructed machine.
- Wolverhampton: The Connaught, Dart and Eagle; cheap machines finished creditably.
- Wolverhampton: The Cotswold and Cotswold No. 2, strong and serviceable.
- Wolverhampton: The Desideratum, a very fair all-round machine.
- Wolverhampton: The Don and Don No. 2; the Don is finished all bright, light, strong and neat, and called a first-class machine.
- Wolverhampton: The Essential Nos. 1 and 2, with specification and prices; plenty for the money.
- Wolverhampton: The Express Nos. 1 and 2, Express Racer, Extra Special Express and Special Express; the Special Express is the principal pattern, good value for the money.
- Wolverhampton: The Five Guinea and Hibernia, fairly cheap; the maker does a good trade in sundries.
- Wolverhampton: The Florentine and Special Florentine, sound, genuine and reliable machines.
- Wolverhampton: The Mercury and Tourist, the Tourist awarded a medal at the Wolverhampton Industrial Exhibition and called a sound, genuine machine with many improvements this season.
- Wolverhampton: The Perfection, Perfection No. 3, Perfection Racer and Special Perfection, bright or painted; the Racer is light and nicely got up.
- Wolverhampton: The Special Champion Racer, Wolverhampton Champion and Wolverhampton Champion No. 2, light, neat and bright.
- Wolverhampton: The Special Hollow Fork University and University Nos. 1 and 2, a very fair machine.
- Wolverhampton: The Special Tempest, Tempest Nos. 1 to 3 and Juvenile Tempest; the Special Tempest is a very fine machine for light road and racing work with an 18-in. tread.
- Wolverhampton: The Special Whitmore No. 1, Whitmore Racer and Whitmore Nos. 2 and 3; sold largely to several London dealers.
- Wolverhampton: Standard Nos. 1 and 2, with specification and prices.
- Wolverhampton: The Universal Nos. 1 to 4; No. 1 is a good machine finished all bright with hubs and cranks plated, and No. 2 much improved since last season.
- Wolverhampton: The Victor, bright or painted, called fair.
- Introduces machines differing so much from the ordinary that they are described separately; the Bicyclette, Club Safety, Fletcher's Patent, Flying Dutchman, Safety, Shadow, Sultan and Wagtail Champion are no longer made, and the new ones are the Hall, Sun and Planet, Little Shielty, Devon Safety and American Star.
- The American machine with its small wheel in front, driven by two foot levers through clutches on the hub and checked by a leather strap; the compiler has only a friend's report that it is safe from headers but hard to learn and short of power.
- The Exeter Bicycle & Tricycle Co.'s safety machine driven by side rods and pedals hung beneath the rider, who sits far behind the head; an optional contrivance steers by both wheels; price 16 guineas (16 pounds 16s).
- Ellis & Co.'s small bicycle of 40-in. driving wheel and about 18-in. trailing wheel, driven by 18-in. pedal levers so that a tall man can ride with a straight leg; steered by the arms alone, price 12 pounds 12s.
- Coupe, Addy & Hall's bicycle with a 36-in. to 44-in. wheel and patented gearing of three toothed wheels, by which a 40-in. wheel drives like a 54-in.; the compiler finds it easy running and a good safety machine.
- William Morton's Edinburgh bicycle with 30-in. and 20-in. wheels, driven by foot levers and a chain; built in two patterns, geared so that a 30-in. runs as a 45-in. or, with a second gear, as a 60-in.
- The Otto Bicycle Co.'s two-wheeler, now made by the Birmingham Small Arms Co., with two 50-in. wheels carrying the seat between them and driven by bands; the compiler found it took practice to learn but ran steadily and safely; price 21 pounds.
- The Coventry Machinists' Co.'s Pony, invented by Mr. Blood of the Irish Champion B.C., a low machine of 40-in. wheel or less driven by a second crank so that a six-foot rider uses a straight leg; price 17 pounds 10s.
- The Tension Bicycle Co.'s Portable, an ordinary best-quality bicycle with Grout's metallic fixed tyres that takes to pieces and packs in a special bag for railway travel; priced 20 to 23 pounds bright.
- Kirby & Co.'s small-wheeled safety bicycle using Sun and Planet gearing, so that a 36-in. wheel travels as a 48-in.; the compiler tried it on the road and found hills nearly as easy as on an ordinary; 14 pounds 10s to 15 pounds.
- Singer & Co.'s safety bicycle with very great rake, the rider seated far back and driving by bent levers with toggle-joint action; the compiler rode several and found it a decided success for hills and rough ground; 17 to 19 pounds 10s.
- Tables the 50-in. machines described, with the page where each is described, the maker's stated weight and the painted and all-bright prices, ordered from the dearest down to the boys' and youths' machines at about 3 pounds; warns that weights are the makers' own.
- Advises the intending buyer to consult Sturmey's Complete Guide to Bicycling, to buy from a large agent or maker, or to write for advice to the editor of The Cyclist at Coventry, giving height, weight, use, roads and price.
- Alphabetical directory of makers with address and chief machine, from Albery of Horsham (Granville) to the Zephyr Bicycle Co. of Coventry.
- New and overlooked articles and machines: the Club hollow felloe, Hough's and Granger's cheap ball bearings, Norwood fork section, the Stanley registered head and neck, double leg-guard, Challis's oilcan case and stop bell, Clares's Guiding Star hub lamp, Underwood's odometer, the Bicycle Cabinet kit, Rapid lubricators and ball bearings and American rubber handles.
- Addenda, Plymouth: the A 1 Eclipse, Eclipse No. 2 and Mount Edgcumbe, sound strong machines well known in the Plymouth district.
- Addenda, Canterbury: the Archbishop Nos. 1 and 2 and Workman's Nos. 1 and 2; the Workman's No. 2 is called cheap and strong.
- Addenda, Birmingham: the Dispatch and Rapid Nos. 1 to 3; the Rapid No. 3 is a high-class nickel-plated machine and the firm have long been part makers.
- Addenda, London: the Durable, guaranteed for twelve months, and the Matchless, the novelty of the season with rubber insulation to bearings, handle-bar and spring, made for the Association by Singer & Co. of Coventry.
- Addenda, Birmingham: the Golightly Nos. 1 and 2; No. 1 is a high-quality new introduction and a good roadster, No. 2 soundly built and strong.
- Addenda, Leeds: the Leeds bicycle, with 70 direct spokes and a Humber head, priced from about £8 10s to £9 15s.
- Addenda, Coventry: the National Nos. 1 to 4, National Special and National Junior from the new firm; the firm is new and guided by Mr. H. J. Lawson, and the Junior is one of the cheapest boys' machines on the market.
- Addenda: Palmer's Youth's Interchangeable, an excellent little article.
- Page-referenced list of the novelties and machines described for the first time in this volume, from Humber's hollow felloe and Wood's narrow wheel to patents and new makes.
- Explains that obsolete parts and peculiar machines were deleted this year and remain described in the 1880 Indispensable (1s. 4d. by post), then lists them by part: tyres, rims, hubs, spokes, wheels, cranks, pedals, bearings, forks, steering heads, handles, springs, saddles, steps and brakes.