HOW A CARLISLE HAIRDRESSER MADE A FORTUNE.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 221, 11 December 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOW A CARLISLE HAIRDRESSER MADE A FORTUNE.

A NEW BICYCLE WHEEL. The pneumatic tyre has becomo such an essential and acceptable part of the bicycle that ic will surpriso riders to know that a wheel has been invented to supersede tho pneumatic, tho market value of which is reckonod by cool, calculating business men at hundreds of thousands of pounds. £IOO,OOO has been paid for the invention —not in America, but in Carlisle —and ono more man has mado his fortune by one turn of tho all-conquering wheel. The fortunate individual whose inventive genuis has been crowned with such a magnificent success is Mr John Nutsford, a Carlisle hairdresser, and a well-known dog breeder. The new wheel, of which we are likely to hear so much in the near future, is an adaptation of an idea which many inventors before Mr Nutsford have failed to successfully carry out—viz, tho spring principle. Various spring wheels have been made hitherto, but they have all been abandoned as failures, and this is thi first time such a startling price has been paid for such a type of invention. Mr Nutsford's may be briefly described as hiving two rim?, an inner and an outer rim—an ordinary solid rabber or cushion tyro being fixed on the latter—and the two are connected with each other by means of two rows of coil springs, the ends of which jass through each rim, and are secured by nuts. The arrangement of the springs, and the manner in which they are fastened, is an important feature in the invention. Experiments have been made with several kind of wheels. A correspondent who had an opportunity of trying the wheel that was made, about a year ago, describes it as having been in a crude condition, the springs being heavy and more numerous than was desirabie, but tho experiment was sufficient to show thattLere was a great deal in the invention, and that improvements might easily make the wheel as resilient and as comfortable as the pneumatic wheels, plus the all-impor-tant advantage of absilute security from punctures. Lighter and improved wheals have sioce been built, and a te?t was recently made between the new bicycle and two pneumatic machines. It was rather curious that the two pneumatic machines should both puncture on the route—from Carlisle to Brampton and back—and the new machine returned with flyinsr colours, being highly spoken of by its rider. It is not claimed that the wheel is perfect, but improvements are in contemplation, whicn it is said will make Nutsford wheel the finest in existence. In the back wheel there are now 72 springs, but it is expected that a fewer number will answer the purpose, and these may be made lighter as circumstances may require. There were the same number in the front wheel until it was found that only half the number was sufficient, and doubtless further improvements will suggest themselves before the manufacture of the machines is commenced. When every improvement has been effected the work of manufacturing the wheels will bo commenced at once. The patent has been taken out for " improvements for wheels for cycles and other vehicles." It is st ited that if the busses and vehicles were fitted with the new wheel the burden of the horses would be oasier, this comfort of tho passengers greater, and tho street would be rid of half its noise.

The invention is now the property of the Cumbrian Cycle and Motor Company (Limited), which consists of a number of enterprising capitalists of Workington, tho Cumberland town which will be the feat of the new industry. Several offers wero mado to the inventor before the wheel was finaly disposed of, but Mr Nutsford had given the Cumbrian Company the first refusal. He himself will bo the managing director of the company, and will receive, ia addition to the £IOO,OOO, one-fifth of all royalties on wheels mado by license. The capital of tho company is a quarter of a million, and thereare many gentlomeu prominently connected with the iron and steel industries on tho now directorate.

It is intended to lay down plant sufficient to turn out from 200 to 250 bicyles and from 1000 to 1500 of the Nutsford wheels each week.