22 U. S. NATIONAL MU8EUAI BULLETIN 2 04 



made of leather stietclied across several sets of coil springs, is adjust- 

 able vertically and fore and aft. .V curved brace at the bottom of the 

 frame serves to strengthen it. 



The front wheel is -JS indies in diameter and contains 24 spokes. 

 The rear wheel has the same diameter but contains 32 spokes. The 

 rear-wheel sprocket, which is on the I'ight side of the wheel, is driven 

 by a block chain fi-om the front sprocket, the latter being equipped 

 with pedals having a nonadjustable throw of 5% inches. Adjust- 

 ment of the chain tension is obtained by moving the rear axle back- 

 wartls or forwards in slots at the rear end of the rear fork. There 

 is no coaster attachment, the pedals always turning while the bicycle 

 is in motion. Oil cups are provided in the hub of each wheel. 



The front fork of the machine is of interesting construction, being- 

 designed to reduce the road shocks transmitted to the handle bars. It 

 consists of a pair of hinged, straight arms and a set of four curved 

 spring arms, so arranged that the straight arms, wdiich are compres- 

 sion members, act to steady the movement of the spring arms, which 

 carry the load and reduce the road shocks. Footrests are attached to 

 the outer sides of the spring arms, for use while coasting. A small 

 mudguard is secured at the rear of the front wheel. 



A large mudguard is mounted over the rear wheel, a chain guard 

 suii'ounds the chain almost completely, and twine laced on the mud- 

 guard and the chain guard protects the rider's skirts from becoming 

 entangled in the wheel spokes or the chain. 



On the right handle bar is a pivoted levei' that controls a rear- 

 wheel spoon brake by means of a system of wires and pivoted arms. 

 A wire spring at the spoon normally holds it away from the tire. A 

 head lamp support is mounted on the upjier part of the front fork. 



COLUMBIA BICYCLE, 1896 



U. S. N. M. No. 3134.S0: (iriginal; gift of CoL N. ,T. Wiley in 19.")0; photo.^raph 

 No. 41230 ; plate 18, rt. 



This highly decorated, drop-frame bicycle was formerly the pos- 

 session of Mrs. M. N. Wiley, mother of the donor, of Montgomery, 

 Ala. The frame is nickel-plated, with gold-plated decorations. On 

 the steering head appear the initials "MNW in gold, emblazoned with 

 small, cut diamonds and emeralds. 



High-carbon-steel tubing and 4VL> percent nickel-steel tubing are 

 used in the frame, the joints and brackets of which are machined 

 forgings. Unlike the 1889 Overman bicycle, this Columbia machine 

 has a double-drop frame, and two small gusset plates connect the bars 

 for additional strength. 



The wheel rims of laminated wood are approximately 25 inches in 

 diameter and have 28 and 86 tangential steel spokes, respectively, front 



