Cycle Repairing and Adjusting
With a Chapter on building a Bicycle from a Set of Parts

y6 CYCLE REPAIRING The process of re-enamelling a cycle at home neces- sarily differs from the above, as described in the next chapter Method of Cycle Plating.—It is out of the question to give in this handbook full instructions on cycle plating. An amount of information on various electrical matters would have to be given, and there is no space for that in this book. “Electro-plating” (a companion “Work” handbook) should be consulted if a working guide to cycle plating is required. But inasmuch as this book will be read by a large number of people in the cycle trade as well as by amateurs, it is desirable to sum up the chief points in the execution of high-class plating. Complaints concern- ing the durability of nickel-plating on cycles are common enough, but they were not so frequent in the early days of the cycle boom. The plating then, in general, was of a superior quality, besides which cyclists rode principally for pleasure, and consequently during inclement weather well greased and wrapped up their machines. Many platers contend that rustless plating cannot be done in nickel, but a worker of long practical experience in the trade asserts that for all ordinary purposes it can. Some firms are trying to get over the difficulty by using silver instead of nickel. Silver, however, is not suitable for this purpose ; it is too soft, and therefore liable to abrasion, not to mention the extra cost. Much bad work is due to careless polishing. All arti- cles, unless in very good condition, should be passed over three grades of emery on suitable bobs. For circular work, such as handle-bars, etc., the soft felt bobs adapt themselves