The First Safety Bicycle.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 May 1906, Page 179

The First Safety Bicycle.

This machine was invented and constructed by Mr. George Shergold, of New street, Gloucester, in the year 1876. The front wheel is 27m. m diameter, and the rear wheel 31111., geared to 45m. The rims are of angle-iron, with inch solid rubber tyres. The

chain is of 2111. pitch, and the spokes Jm. diameter. The hubs are of wood, with iron side plates, and are actually oil-retaming, the principle being the same as in the latest barrel hubs, which were " discovered " and put on the market quite recently. The brake, too, is quite up-to-date, being, m fact, the direct ancestor of the patent frictionless roller which is now so much in vogue. It is actuated by turning the handles on their horizontal axes, thereby tightening a chain which causes a revolving drum to press against the tyre of the back wheel. The pedals are of the rat-trap variety, with a tread of ioin., and the bicycle complete — including the lamp, which, as will be seen, forms no unimportant feature — weighs just under Solbs. The photo was taken by Mr. Waremg, of Gloucester, the owner of the machine.

Determined to possess the most powerful racing motor car in the world, Mr. Alfred Gywnne Vanderbilt gave orders months ago for the construction at New York of a machine designed to run one mile in 23 2-3 sec, meaning, 152 miles an hour. This wonderful machine (writes the New York correspondent of the London Telegraph on 10th March, is nearly completed. It is of 250 horse power, and when ready for action will weigh the 2,2401b named by the racing committee as the utmost weight limit for automobiles competing on Florida Beach. Mr. Vanderbilt's new car is entered for a special competition, wherein no prize is awarded unless a speed of two miles a minute is maintained — namely, a speed equalling 176 ft. per second. Paul Sartori, a daredevil young Frenchman, who js now engaged in running Mr. Vanderbilt's racing

car, has been engaged to pilot the new one. Most glowing accounts are published of this automobile racing marvel, but it will be better to await the forthcoming test on the hard sand track of Ormonde Beach, Florida, before concluding that the speed designed will be actually attained. If Mr. Vanderbilt's claims are borne out by results he will certainly own the most marvellous motor car m the world, and American constructors will lead all their rivals.