HOW BICYCLES ARE MADE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8043, 11 December 1891, Page 6

HOW BICYCLES ARE MADE.

(Bt Our Special Reporter.)

The development of cycling in Canterbury, is in no way m&re marked than in the improvements which have been made, not alone in the manufacture of the bicycles, but a'lßO in the factories where they are produced. A visit was paid to the works of Messrs Adams, Curties and Co. by a member of the staff of the Press the other day, ■when the various processes of the manufacture of a bicycle from the raw material to the finished article was inspected. The front shop facing Manchester street is occupied as a show room for a large number of new and second-hand bicycles of all descriptions. Beyond this, on the left, is the office of the firm, and opposite the stockroom. Here is kept all the numerous parts necessary to make a complete machine, including spokes, rims, tyres, &c, piled up in great profusion awaiting the period when they shall pass into the manufacturing department to be made up. Passing from the front portion of the premises the visitor enters upon the place where the work is done. Fifteen hands are employed by the firm, m,ost of them being experts at the different branches of the trade. The machinery includes four lathee, four polishing machines, eiriery belts for polishing handles, bars, &c. Then there is a full nickelplating plant, enamelling plant, brazing hearths, forges, &c. The latter are fitted with Boot's patent blowers, which enable a very great degree of heat to be attained. Nearly forty machines are in course of being manufactured to the order of riders in all parts of New Zealand. A Star machine, the speciality of the firm, is in course of being made with pneumatic tyres for A. C. Willmot. * This weighs only some 301b,, and will be a perfect little beauty. The firm manufacture cycles with clincher tyres, Boothroyd tyres, cushion tyres, pneumatic tyres, &c. In various parts of the snop are to be seen machines in different states of preparation. Here were Star frames in different states of finish ; some just fresh from the borers, others in the hands of the fitters, while in the smithy one of the workmen was engaged making the lap joints, which is a very delicate operation, requiring the highest art of the smith, for the tube ends after being sawn in the middle are shouldered entirely by the agency of the hammer. Piles of handle bars, looking very uulike the finished ones we see on machines. The wheel builders were engaged, at the time of the visit on clincher wheels, and the lathes were in full swing turning out the bearings and other parts of the machines. The polishing department is a very important one, is in full work, and the emery belt is continually going finishing off the handle bars to a high state of polish. Following the process of manufacture the next department visited was the nickel plating. Here a compact but powerful dynamo supplies the necessary amount of electricity. A large nickel vat is placed on one side and on the wall is the galvanometer which waa registering some thirty degrees of current, and the articles placed in the copper bath are soon coated with a beautiful deposit of copper. After passing through the copper vat the parts are scoured and are then put in the nickel vat to receive the nickel plating. Leaving the nickel vat, the plated parts j are polished on calico bufis, and with the assistance of rouge a fine polish is imparted to the nickeL The last stage in the nunufactme is the enamelling. The oven at the time of the visit waa in full swing, being filled with frames and parts of bicycles. The first coat is a special preparation, whioh prevents the enamel from chipping. Three coats are p"t on, the last being a beautiful black, which, when baked in the oven referred to, is as smooth as glass and as hard as flint. Coming back to the fitting shop, the machine passed into the hands of experts, and was fitted up. The tyres were .cemented to the runs, if solid or cushion, and the handles and pedals in their turn added. Thus the manufacture of a bicycle locally is completed, one too, which experts admit is fully equal to those of the best makers in England, The ordinary bicycle, it may be noted, is still in demand, and the firm turn out machines which are a marvel of strength. The handles of these are a speciality, bemg seven-eighth tubing, thus obviating the breakages which often take place should & spill occur. It may be mentioned that the firm manufacture no less than twelve different designs of Star cycles.