The Bearings, Vol 7, No 5
Articles in this issue
- F.J. Osmond, described as a great English rider, is announced to be coming to Chicago for the World's Fair and to race; Zimmerman and Sanger's planned trip to England is affected.
- The international race committee sets the League meet for August 5–12 in Chicago, with details on the track, circuit clubs, and prize rules.
- A Pullman porter offers loquacious views on cycling, the L.A.W. color-line debate, and the Zimmerman vs. Windle racing rivalry.
- A letter from Kirk Brown corrects The Bearings' account of Mr. Measure's boating mishap.
- Treasurer Brewster's dual-voucher financial system for L.A.W. divisions is described.
- Short miscellany department covering the Galena club, Allen & Sachtleben in Dallas, World's Fair bicycle storage, North End Wheelmen run, and St. Louis C.C. racing colors.
- N.C.A. secretary Frank Egan discusses Racing Board failings, new amateur rules, N.C.A. chances in Chicago, and so-called 'flopping' members.
- Department of rural cycling news items: Shirley Symons lecture, Wm. Hildebrandt seeking a German-speaking bicycle dealer, and the Kansas Division meet at Fort Scott.
- Lead editorial on the L.A.W. National Assembly in Philadelphia covering proxy violations on the negro exclusion vote, the Addresses publication, mail vote, and the Wheelman Company contract.
- Editorial defending American cycling verse by Dodge, Foster, MacOwen, Collins, and Hibbard against an English critic, alongside an editorial on proxy abuses at the Philadelphia L.A.W. Assembly.
- Humorous feature about Indiana farmer John Boohor whose mail-order bride was deterred by six miles of muddy roads between her and her new home.
- Editorial sympathizing with Governor McKinley's financial ruin through loyalty to a friend; notes his honorary membership in the Century Road Club and Chicago Cycling Club.
- Editorial rebuttal of the Scottish Cyclist's claim that Americans are 'not over scrupulous,' quoting Prof. Bryce in support.
- Long signed feature on impressions of L.A.W. convention delegates (Willison, Brown, Luscomb, Kirkpatrick, Perkins, Potter, Raymond, Burdett) and the B&O train ride home.
- Column by Bolav on road improvement gaining ground, a carriage dealer praising improved cycle salesmen, Philadelphia Show effects, and the trade outlook.
- Editorial on the shamateur problem: Simon Pure vs. 'Shammy' under new L.A.W. amateur rules, with the N.C.A. waiting to pick up defectors.
- New York dispatch: Burdett denies the A.A.U. compelled the L.A.W. stricter amateur rule; covers Irvington-Milburn race management, N.C.A. Brooklyn track plans, Milwaukee Wheelmen club house, Chesapeake Club victory buffet, and Peoria meet preparations.
- Department covering the Chicago Cycling Club road season, two new clubs (Prairie State Wheelmen, Ramblers' Camping and Cycling Club), Cook County Wheelmen euchre party, Oak Park C.C. Washington's Birthday dance, World's Fair bicycle storage, and the Ravenswood Club milestone donation.
- Trade analysis citing English dealer failures and Cycle Trade Journal advice to diversify; urges American dealers to prepare.
- Editorial using the Irish Cyclist vs. Cyclist rivalry to defend The Bearings' rider-paper policy.
- Trade news on Garford Mfg. Co.'s injunction against Bretz & Curtis on a coil-spring saddle patent, with a survey of other saddle makers including Gormully & Jeffery, Whitten-Godding, W.L. Fish, R.S. True Co., and Rich & Sager.
- News on the formation of the Associated Cycling Clubs of Boston and Vicinity, listing officers Josiah Dean, Williams, Robinson, Abraham, and Peck.
- Technical letters department (signed 'A Practical Mechanic') responding to Palmer's tire article with bounce, reception, and rejection tests; updates on the Singer Challenge wheel, Pittsburg syndicate, American Cycle Co., Electric Cycle Syndicate Ltd., and Warwick light weights.
- Trade review of the Eagle-Altair catalogue, McIntosh-Huntington's three catalogues, Taylor Cycle Co.'s four lines, Ames & Frost Imperial advertising, Union Cycle P.D.Q. list, Morgan & Wright pneumatic tires, New York trade changes, and Sercombe-Bolte's $60,000 bonus.
- Profile of Thorsen & Cassady Co. (Chicago agents for Western Wheel Works, Warwicks, Remingtons, Garford saddles) and items on Union's Boston opening, Ideal Tire, Rambler's San Francisco medal, F.H. Henning Cycle Co. incorporation, Indianapolis Rubber Co., Schulenburg Cycle Co. Detroit, and N.C.U.W.A.
- Technical letter from an anonymous cycle builder describing a practical three-machine test of elliptical sprocket positions, recommending the long-axis-at-right-angles setting.
- Letter signed 'Rider' from Elmwood, Neb., on the physics of pneumatic tire load-carrying and a critique of Palmer's fiber-direction claim, objecting to 'interested parties' dominating the tire discussion.
- Department items: Italian sculptors buying bicycles, new West Side store (C.E. Graham, Fowler/Credenda/Ramblers), Stover Co. Chicago branch, Stearns agency difficulties, Ladies' Psycho description, and trade weather effects.
- Publisher N.H. Van Sicklen responds to Bicycling World attacks, defends not speaking at the Assembly, and reveals the Wheelman Co. contract terms and postal compliance concerns.
- Waltham, Mass. bicycle track set to open May 30: one-third mile, banked corners, grand stand with 6,240 seats and 78 private boxes, club house; Chief Consul Perkins and Chairman Robinson in charge.
- New club formed March 1 on Chicago's West Side; F.W. Morgan elected president; monthly dues $1 for a training fund; club may take charge of the Riverside road race.
- R.J. Mecredy (Irish Cyclist editor) announces he will attend the World's Fair and enter championships; A.W. Harris also plans to compete; South African Cyclists' Union sending representatives.
- South Park Commissioners approved the Pullman road race on the old course with 500+ entries expected; covers Chicago track progress, $17,500 subscribed, Australian races, Charleston track, Buffalo indoor meet, California races, Herne Hill wooden surface, England's N.C.U. licensing scheme, Toledo track scheme, Zimmerman medal, and International Race Committee's one-third mile decision.
- Editorial on the California protest against Decoration Day cycle racing, advising wheelmen to respect local customs while noting that eastern cities use the day for racing.
- Editorial on the Century Road Club election, noting The Bearings as official organ and the club's independence.
- Editorial commending Chairman Raymond's plan to distribute racing-rules books (250 copies at 4 cents each) to all chief consuls by March 15.
- Editorial on the decline of club country runs versus scorching, including a letter from Wm. McWade (South End Wheelmen, Philadelphia) urging enforcement of pace rules and promoting sociability.
- New York items: N.C.A. formally organized (C.H. Byrne president, F.A. Egan secretary); Zimmerman will not join N.C.A.; covers Philadelphia club membership drives, Columbia Cycle Co. Portland riding school, Road Hogs Beaten ($50 damages to Homer Canfield), Rochester Genesee B.C. charter car to Chicago, Peoria-to-Sterling relay ride plans, Maryland Century Club, North Dakota cycling, and El Paso cycling.
- Editorial: Chicago Cycling Club cannot build a new home during the World's Fair due to high material costs; discusses the $4,000 site investment, skeleton plan abandoned, $400 appropriation for present quarters, and full Century Road Club election results.
- Massachusetts Bicycle Club plans a 'Paul Revere Ride' on April 19 following Revere's 1775 route to Lexington and Concord, with lectures at historic spots.
- Feature by R.W. Cobb (Auburn, Ind.) describing a three-week January tour with William Noble from Los Angeles through Riverside, Box Springs Pass, Perris, Elsinore, Temecula, Fall Brook, San Diego, and return via Santa Anna — over 2,000 miles ridden that winter.
- Feature on fancy cycle trick riders: James Ordway (Overman San Francisco), W.S. Maltby on a G.O.O., William C. Hoeffier riding inside a high-wheel rim, and a Sparta B.C. entertainment incident.
- Trade analysis: salesmen report tough conditions in Kansas City, Michigan/Illinois, New York state, and Pennsylvania/NY/Ohio; also covers the Garford vs. Bretz & Curtis update, Scientific American on elliptic sprockets, and Mr. Douglas' Retort letter.
- Interview with A.J. Marrett (Coventry Machinists' Co., Chicago) on tariff reduction expected under Cleveland; covers the Chicago Dealers' Doings (Cycle Board of Trade organized, anti-theft bureau), Stearns Catalogue review, and free training quarters at McCune Cycle Co. Boston.
- Department: Detroit trade items (Huber & Metzger, Hilsendegen, Detroit Cycle Co., Overman new branch), Indiana items (Auburn Cycle Co., Fort Wayne A.B. White Cycle Co.), W.H. Fauber's patented one-piece crank axle/sprocket, Kansas City dealers, Peoria trade, Rochester, St. Louis firm moves, and new Kenwood agencies.
- Classified table of London second-hand bicycle and tricycle prices (Feb. 15, 1893); Singer Challenge description; the Dunlop-Premier Deal (Premier Cycle Co. letter); Col. Benjamin Lovell; electric bicycle inquiry; Twelve Pounder coming to America; and Hendee starting his own business in Springfield, Mass.
- Column by Bolav on the effects of the National Cycle Show on 1893 trade, competition concerns, state of indecision among manufacturers, recommendation for trade organization, and note that Johnson will use the Burris-Michelin tire.