INVENTOR OF WOOD RIMS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10645, 26 June 1897, Page 5

INVENTOR OF WOOD RIMS.

America's most valuable contribution to the bicycle. A bicyole without a wood rim, in this country, says the New York Tribune, is a rarity, yet only a few years ago the wood rim was unheard of in this connoction, and when it was introduced it was greeted with ridicule on all aides. The wood rim is strictly an Araerioan Idea, nnd to Charles F. Harrineton is duo the credit of introducing It. Mr Harrington's early lifo was spent at the woodworking business in Vermont, and later, when he engaged In the bicyole manufacturing business, It was natural for him to think of using wood for a rim. Hundreds of patents for special features pertaining to bioyoleß are granted each year by the United States Patent Office, bnt the majority of them die a natural death ; few pay any money to the inventor. The wood rim is undoubtedly the most valuable contrlI butlon America has given to the bicycle ; i nearly every thing else that haß stood 1 the teßt of actual use has come from ' the othor side.' France introduced the bicycle, but England Improved it, and gave to riders the suspension wheel, ball bearings, pneumatic tire, tubular frame and the ordinary and safety types. America has hold her own in woodworking ; in fact, she leads the world, and the light, strain-resisting American buggy always has been a mn'rvel to foreigners. Its wheelß are bo light that the foreigner wonders bow they hold together, but the much-talkod-of resistance is the secret of it. It is the combination of wood nnd steel I that mike tlio American buggy possible: tbe wood absorbs tho shock of vibration —is resilient. The same principle applies to the steel rail and wood ties of tho railway. Without the wood tieß, the immense strain would tear something to pieces. A ateel.rimmed wheel without a tire is virtually a solid, which feela jar a all through ; the wood rim bears jare, as it is the nature of wood to bear them, saving the whole structure, and not suffering itself. It is lighter than the steal rim, and it permits the frame also to be made lighter. There are some incidental advantages, also, and some not go incidental. For instance, the wood springs back and rights itself from b train, while the steel stays sprung and buckled ; the wood does not rust and dent, and cementing the tire ia easier.