According to Michelin’s website, “Back in the late 19th century, in the early days of the company, the Michelin brothers were exhibiting their products at a fair in Lyon when one of them noticed that if you added arms and legs to the pile of tyres they were showcasing, it would look like a […]
Bibendum, The Michelin Man Read More »
1891 was an interesting year in bicycle evolution. Penny farthings were now ‘old hat’ and the days of the tricycle (in the centre of the illustration below) were also numbered. The design of the new safety bicycle had improved in leaps and bounds, and in just five years the crossframe on the left had already
A Question of Taste Read More »
While it’s not surprising that a few of the bicycles built by one of the world’s top cycle manufacturers such as Coventry Machinists Co have survived for 133 years, there are some delicate parts on a bicycle that nearly always succumb to the ravages of time. Worn leather saddles and handlebar grips are damaged easily
Addicted to Patina Read More »
Until 1910, BSA sold only components and bicycles in ‘knock-down’ form. These were known as BSA FITTINGS MACHINES. HISTORY: BSA made Otto bicycles in 1880, followed by a variety of other bicycles and tricycles, until October 1885, when they decided to give up making complete cycles and parts to focus on Government orders for
1890s CHARRETTE PEUGEOT Most of the images I share are from digital sources. But when I spotted these old photos of a Peugeot children’s wagon similar to mine I obviously had to buy them. They are dated 1896 and 1897 on the back. This type of small wagon was usually pulled by hand. But carts
1890s Charrette Peugeot Read More »
It took me over a year to get this 1897 Triumph from the previous owner, but I eventually managed, in 2013, However, I was faced with a dilemma. It was in wonderful preserved original condition but its front tyre was perished which made the bicycle unrideable. It’s a 30″ size and tyres in that size
1897 Royal Triumph No 1AA for Gents Read More »
Frame No 12873 is the oldest known surviving Triumph safety bicycle. The chaincase is leather. At the time, this was one of the most expensive ladies’ bicycles in the world. The first photo is from 2012 at Brighton Pier, a few months after getting the Triumph from a friend in France. The other photos are
1897 Victoria Triumph for Ladies Read More »
The photo above shows an old velocipede at the junction of Parnell and Sackville Streets in Dublin around 1911. Though many bicycles were imported from Britain, Ireland did have its own cycle industry from the time of the very first bicycles. As you can see below in this extract from ‘English Mechanic’ of May 28,
1869 Velocipede by Ledwidge of Dublin, Ireland Read More »
Chainless bicycles were popular in America, where they were supplied by a variety of manufacturers, with Columbia the leading exponent. France’s leading brand was Metropole. The Belgian FN chainless was also very well constructed, and Durkopp copied that system to produce their own chainless gear for the German market. Quadrant made a chainless bicycle in
1914 Chainless Rover Roadster Read More »
