PNEUMATIC TYKES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18194, 3 October 1924, Page 4

PNEUMATIC TYKES.

J. B. DUNLOP'S BOOK. Tho story of tho birth of the pneumatic tyro as told by the late Mr J. B. Ihinlop has becsn published by Alexander Thorn and Co., Ltd., Dublin. In a foreword, Mrs McClintock, Mr Dunlop's daughter, explains tbaC her father had just completed the first rough sketch of the contents of the book wheu he died, aaid she describes the work as crude tfvnd unfinished, although it contains the essential facts. In a chapter dealing with liis first experiment, Mr Dunlop states:—"I produced a disc of wood about It» inches in diameter, and.then purchased some sheet rubber l-32nd inch thick, out of which I constructed an air tubo and inserted therein ft small air supply tube. The air tube was secured to tho periphery of tho disc of wood by a covering of thin linen, which was tacked to tho edges of the disc iu a temporary manner. 1 inflated the air tubo through a small supply tub*; with my son's football pump and tied the little air supply tubo in the same manner as ho would tie a football. T theu brought the small front wheel of my son's tricyclo and also tho airtyred disc into my business yard. I asked my assistant, John Caldwell, in a rather casual way which of the tyres ho considered would be the faster. He said, 'The small tyre, of course.' i. first threw tho solid-tvred wheel along tho yard, but it did not go tho full length of it. Then I threw the- airtyred disc. It went the whole length of the yard and rebounded with considerable force off the gate, which was closed. Mr Caldwell siud that I must have used more force when I throw the air-tyred wheel, and he threw the two wheels himself, with tho game result. > J Thus the author describes tho very modest experiment which set in motion the great tyre industry.