236 



♦ KNOWLEDGE 



[March 20, 1885. 



at a great pace down hill with practice when the road is 

 fairly straight and the way is clear ; but if it is necessary to 

 check their speed, either by applying the break or by b ick- 

 pedalling, then the steering becomes uncertain. From their 

 possessing this fault, front steerero", which are now quite as 



machine, because they are not required, as it is impossible 

 either by pedalling or even by pulling at the handles to 

 capsize it backwards ; stay-rods would therefore bo super- 

 fluous. This machine only requires a good brake to m^ike 

 it the lightest roadster yet introduced. 



The C 11 liar J. 



The Central-Geared Ruclier. 



I propose giving engravings of three other front-steerers, 

 made on the same lines and varying only in details of 

 construction. 



The machine raad ; by Messrs. lTum';er, Mtrriott, ife 



The I'iuneer. 



fast on the level, and almost as fast up hill as rear-steerers, 

 will eventually completely eclipse them. 



It will be seen by the engraving, that the Cunard front- 

 stecrer has a T-shaped frame and is central geared — that is, 

 that the chain is in the centre, between the legs of the 

 lider. This form of frame is the lightest that can be 

 made. 



The driving-wheels are small, not exceeding 42 in. in 

 diameter. The front wheel is laige, not less than 20 in. in 

 diameter. The steering-wheel is thrown from i in. to in. 

 further forward than usual. The rider sits from -t in. to 

 G in. in front of his axle. The steering is effected by a pair 

 of bicycle handles at opposite ends of a lever in front of 

 the rider. There are no stay-rods or safety rods behind the 



The Quadrant, No. 8. 



Cooper, known for some 

 time as the Cripper, but 

 now advertised by the name 

 of the Humber Automatic 

 Steerer, was brought out 

 at least a year before the 

 Canard, and it possesses the 

 great advantage of having 

 an efficient break, and is 

 The Humber Automatic .Steerer. therefore afirst-classroadster, 



but on two points 1 think 

 it would be possible to improve it. First, and most 

 important, it might have a larger front steering-wheel to 

 reduce the vibration, and, secondly, it might have more 



