26 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 04 



The frame is of tlie modern diamond-shaped type, and is constructed 

 of tubing. The handle bars are of curved wood and are mounted on 

 the upper end of the fork supporting the front wheel. A hand-oper- 

 ated warning bell is mounted on the right handle bar. The saddle is 

 of leather with a metal frame. 



The two wheels are identical and consist of metal hubs supporting 

 12-inch-diameter wooden rims with tangential wire spokes. Single- 

 tube pneumatic tires are provided. The drive to the rear wheel is by 

 chain and sprocket, tlie front sprocket mounting two pedals in the 

 modern manner. No bralie is provided. 



CHILD'S QUADRICYCLE, Ca. 1900 



U. S. N. M. No. 312S69 ; original ; gift of Robert C. King in 1945 ; photograph No. 

 41231 ; plate 20, b. 



Used about 1900 by the donor when a child, this small quadricycle, 

 or Irish Mail as it was popularly called, was made by the Wabash 

 Manufacturing Co., of Wabash, Ind. 



Of simple and inexpensive construction, the vehicle is made pri- 

 marily of strap steel. The arched frame supports a pivoted axle 

 at the front, and at the rear a crank axle to which only the right 

 wheel is pinned, the left running free on it. The rear wheels, of 

 metal with solid rubber tires, are 15 inches in diameter and have a 

 tread of 16 inches. The rear axle and right wheel are driven by the 

 fore-and-aft motion of a pivoted lever at the front of the frame, the 

 lower end of the lever being connected to the crank of the axle. A 

 wooden handle is at the top of the lever. 



The front wheels, similar in construction to the rear, are 11 inches 

 in diameter and have a tread of 151/4 inches. The axle is steered by 

 the feet of the rider. 



The wheel base is 231/2 inches. A rectangular w^ooden seat is secured 

 to the top of the frame. The machine is painted red with white 

 decorations. 



PIERCE BICYCLE, Ca. 1900 



U. S. N. M. No. 309386 ; original ; gift of Barton A. Bean in 1928 ; photograph No. 

 7971/2 ; plate 21, a. 



This bicycle was built by the Geo. N. Pierce Co., of Buffalo, N. Y., 

 also known as the makers of the early Pierce Motorette automobiles. 

 In time, the Pierce automobile became known as the Pierce-Arrow, 

 while the Pierce bicycles and Pierce 1- and 4-cylinder motorcycles 

 were built by the Pierce Cycle Co., a subsidiary of the original com- 

 pany. The Pierce Cycle Co. was headed by Percy Pierce, son of 

 George, when receivers were ai^pointed for it in 1910. 



