April 3, 1SS5.] 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



281 



A reference to the figure will show that ample provitsion is 

 made for the entry of fresh air into the coiitrivanoe, and 

 for the separate reception of the contents of the soil-pipe, 

 and household waste waters, all of which pass freely 

 through the water valve into the sewer. The dip-trap is 

 ventilated iu addition on the sewer side by a pipe, which 

 can be adjusted to the requirements of any house, to carry 

 away the vitiated air, aud to prevent undue pressure of 

 ssewergas upon the water seal. One or more soil pipes 

 may, if desired, open into the basal channel of the air- 

 chamber. 



To sum up, the Edinburgh trap is practically one of the 

 best inventions of its kind, inasmuch as it provides for 

 speedy removal of household waste, adequate ventilation 

 of the drains, and perfect security from sewer-gas through 

 edicient disconnection. 



TRICYCLES IN 1885. 



Bv JoHx Browning. 



[Chairman of the London Tricycle Cluh.) 



SADDLES AND SEATS. 



IT would be difficult to over-estimate the value of a good 

 saddle or seat on a tricycle, as on this depends the 

 power of riding continuously for a number of hours health- 

 fully and pleasurably. 



The Saepension Saddle. 



We are indebted to the firm of Lamplugh <t Brown, 

 wholesale saddlers, for the best saddle for tricycles, known 

 BB the long-distance suspension saddle. This saddle con- 

 sists of a single sheet of leather stretched on a triangular 

 frame of thin sheet-iron or steel enamelled black, so formed 

 that in the centre the leather is about an inch above the 

 frame, and the rider is suspended on the leather just as he 

 would be suspeded on parchment if he sat on a drum-head. 



After riding on such a contrivance as I have described 

 for some time, the combined effects of perspiration, of the 

 action of the legs, and the weight of the rider, is to stretch 

 the leather and cause it to sag down. So long as the leather 

 does not touch the metal frame this is advantageous, as the 

 seat of the rider is firmer and more comfortable ; but after 

 a time the leather touches the frame, and the rider rests on 

 it. Under these conditions, riding on it becomes uncom- 

 fortable, and even dangerous. To obviate this difficulty a 

 tension arrangement has been introduced, which, by means 

 of a screw adjustment under the front of the saddle, admits 

 of the leather being again stretched tighter on the frame, 

 thus restoring the suspension, and with it the full advantage 

 of the saddle. 



Having produced such a saddle as this, most makers 

 would have been satisfied to have traded on their reputa- 

 tion. Not so Messrs. Lamplugh &, Brown, for they have 

 just brought out a new saddle for this season, which they 

 have aptly named the Buffer-Saddle, in which the whole of 

 the arrangements are greatly improved, and the insulation 

 of the rider is carried to much greater perfection. 



In this contrivance the triangular frame is tubular 

 instead of flat, giving, without increase of weight, great 

 additional strength. The tension is applied by means of 



three screw adjustments, one at each apex of the triangular 

 frame. This allows the tension to be regulutid to the 

 greatest nicety. But the most important improvement, 

 from which the saddle has been named is that, instead 

 of the leather being attachttl at the back of the saddle to 



Tlio IJiiffer Saddle (upper view). 



the upper part of the i'lauie, thus resting on it, it is 

 attached to the underneath of the frame ; aud on the to]> 

 of the frame there is cemented a piece of cylindrical 

 vulcanised rubber, about nine inches long, on which the 

 leather rests. The peak of this new saddle is not turned 

 up, as has hitherto been the case, but is turned down, as 

 it should be. 



The Buffer Saddle (undur view). 



The effect of these new arrangements is very marked. 

 While a new suspension saddle of the usual kind requires 

 a few days' riding to make it Cdmfortable, and some weeks, 

 or even months, to get it into the best condition, the new 

 saddle yields so to the figure of the rider that it gives a 

 comfortable seat directly, and that with le.ss unhealthy 

 pressure than any other suspension saddle I have tried. 



Some very taking stuffed saddles have been introduced, 

 but though luxurious to sit on, they are, in my experience, 

 none of them comfortable to ride on, the reason being that 

 they cannot sufficiently provide for ventilation. 



The best-ventilated saddle is Nagel's new laced saddle, 

 which has only been introduced this season. 



Nagel's Laced Saddle. 



This is a suspension-saddle, in which the leather is in 

 two part.s, and the front and back portions are attached 

 separately to the triangular frame. These two parts are 

 united only by a very stout leather lace. The seat thus 

 provided feels very comfortable, and though I should expect 

 the lace to very soon become slack, nothing, of course, 

 could well be easier than to draw the lacing tighter. 

 Nagel's is a thoroughly useful saddle, and many riders of 

 experience speak well of it. 



