The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 13, No 15
Articles in this issue
- About fifty members of the Ilderan Bicycle Club dined at Wilson's on December 30th, with President Greenman presiding; the evening featured banjo music from the Dore Brothers, storytelling by Camacho, and a presentation of a watch pendant to Treasurer Miller.
- Charter members including C. B. Barber, Milton E. Baker, W. F. Miller and Howard Greenman met at the Ilderan Bicycle Club rooms to launch the Brooklyn Camera Club, appointing a committee on constitution and by-laws.
- Members of the Citizens Club held their annual New Year's Eve watch-night party with entertainers including Dr. Aitken, Thomas Smith, and humorist "Jim" Burdette; Chief Consul Bidwell, Thomas Stevens and others were among the 150 guests.
- Messrs. "Billy" De Graaf and "Irv." Halstead of the Harlem Wheelmen set out on their tandem at midnight in a snowstorm to ride from New York City to Tarrytown to claim champagne promised by host Zilba Carpenter, but were stopped at Yonkers until Sunday afternoon before completing the trip.
- The Lynn Cycle Club held a leap year party at Exchange Hall with about sixty couples, led by floor manager Frank W. Goodwin and Miss Gertie Libby, with dancing to Perkins' Orchestra until midnight.
- Members McFadden and Nisbett on a tandem, along with A. L. Paynter, F. L. Daniels on trikes, and E. M. English on a bike, rode out of the club house at 12:01 a.m. on New Year's Day to complete a seven-mile circuit through Central Park in fifty minutes — the first recorded ride of 1888 in Gotham.
- The League of American Wheelmen Reorganization Committee will meet in Buffalo later in the month, with President Kirkpatrick and Secretary-Editor Bassett attending to consider plans for restructuring the League.
- Correspondent Alert reviews New Year's Day activities among Brooklyn cycling clubs, noting the K. C. W.'s club house scheme, the Long Island Wheelmen's disputed election, the Ilderans' recent dinner, and the Brooklyn Bicycle Club's ongoing improvements to their rooms.
- Keystone Club correspondent reports the club will remain a League member, notes Captain Bidwell is rumoured to be selling his bike, and describes "Charlie" Seidell's excitement at receiving his new Star bicycle.
- Correspondent "Bi" reports a quarterly Division meeting set for January 19th and describes California wheelmen's growing dissatisfaction with L. A. W. management, with talk of forming a separate organization to retain their membership fees.
- The Long Island Wheelmen elected Joseph D. Huggins as President and C. S. Luscomb as Captain on January 3rd, with between seventy and eighty votes cast and the club now numbering 125 to 135 members.
- A. G. Spalding & Bros. have appointed A. B. Barkman, of the Brooklyn Bicycle Club and L. A. W. Bookmaster, to head their bicycle department at 241 Broadway; Barkman is known for compiling the New York State Division Road Book.
- Correspondent Ralph describes the holiday social round among Baltimore clubs — the Ramblers' ladies' reception, the Maryland Bicycle Club's New Year's Day open house attended by the mayor and about 800 callers, and the Baltimores' full-dress dance — and reports that indications favour Baltimore for the upcoming League meet.
- The Manhattan Bicycle Club held a stag New Year's Eve racket at 302 West 58th Street for about 45 men, with piano music from W. H. Putney and Frank De G. Kane, a recitation by William Bonelli, and bugler Sheehan welcoming 1888.
- Editor's miscellany column noting the Montclair Wheelmen's disbanding, the New York Club's mileage rise from 10,032 in 1886 to 26,186 in 1887, W. A. Illston's wish to turn professional, and trade notes on T. G. Conway & Co.'s failure and Merwin Hulbert & Co.'s likely entry into cycles.
- Pope Manufacturing Co. introduces the Volunteer Columbia at $100 for the 50-inch size with ball bearings all round, built to the same steel standards as the Expert but offered at lower cost by limiting production to four sizes and one finish; includes Pope's letter to the editor describing construction details and claiming it offers the highest value ever at its price.
- A fuller account of W. H. De Graaf and E. I. Halsted's New Year's night ride from New York to Tarrytown on a Columbia tricycle through a blinding snowstorm, their overnight stay at the Yonkers Bicycle Club house, and their eventual arrival at the Franklin House, Tarrytown, to claim the prize.
- The Binghamton Wheel Club announces three prizes for the upcoming 1888 season — a club gold medal, a gold medal from H. W. Arnold, and a hub lamp from Walker Sherwood — and notes that C. Craver and H. Y. Breser rode the eight-mile square in winter conditions.
- Seventh instalment of a practical series advising wheelmen-photographers on selecting developing formulas for dry-plate negatives, including Pyro and Potash Developer recipes recommended with Carbutt's plates and guidance for portraits, landscapes and instantaneous views.
- A whimsical New Year's fantasy by correspondent "Bi" in which the personified year 1887 advises his successor 1888 to press L. A. W. Secretary-Editor Bassett to improve the official journal, urge A. C. U. Ducker of Buffalo to abandon amateur-question agitation, and counsel various League figures including Percy Stone and President Kirkpatrick.
- Full mileage table for New York Bicycle Club members in 1887 — J. M. McFadden led with 3,004 miles, total rising from 10,032 in 1886 to 26,186 in 1887 across forty riders — plus a profile of former L. A. W. Secretary-Editor Eugene M. Aaron, now successfully in the life insurance business.
- Reprint of a letter from an enthusiastic rider to the English journal The Cyclist arguing that the safety bicycle surpasses the ordinary as a touring machine, particularly for hill climbing and steep descents.