Figure 1.--Here we see an English or Welsh boy on an early penny farthing bicycle. He looks to be wearing the uniform of a penny farthing bicycle club. We believe it was theuniform of his bicycle club. The portrait is undated, but we would guess was taken in the early 1880s. The portrait was taken by J Harrison Goldie in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales.

We do not yet have much information on the vehicles like bicycles that English children played with. Images of early bicycles like the openny farthing were mostly rode by adukts. This was not only because they were enpensive, they were also dangerous. It can be assumed that children pictured with 19th century bycycles were from affluent families. Actually bicycles did not become associated with children until quite late. Britain never had the fascination with cars as wasthe case in America. We note bikes being used by adults for convetances in Oxford and many other locations in Britain. Not a lot of children from working-class or moderate ncome families had bikes until after World War II.

Bicycles

We do not yet have much information on the vehicles like bicycles that English children played with. Images of early bicycles like the penny farthing were mostly rode by adukts. This was not only because they were enpensive, they were also dangerous. The penny farthing bicycle was developed in the 1870s and used in the 1880s. It was rapidly replaced in the 1890s after the saftey bicycle appeared in 1892. While mostlymade for adults, there were some made in small sizes for children. The Coventry Machinists company in England, one of many manufacturers, offered bicycles in their 1880 catalogue bicycles from 38 inches to 58 inches. Bicycle clubs were formed which competed with each other. The Clubs not only helped organized competition, but were sometimes needed for saftey reasons. Reports suggest that coach drivers would sometimes try to run over biycycleists who they thought were slowing them down. Clubs often adopted uniforms. Uniforms commonly included caps, tight fitting jackets and pants, normally knickers. The uniform here was a typical example (figure 1) Tne cap is a bit ifferent. We have Pillbox caps were more common. We have not noted one quite like it. Notice the club badge on the collar. The jackets were cut somwhat like military tunics without laels and buttoned at the collar. Notice the cuaway front at the bottom of the jacket. The uniform almost always included knickers and kneesocks or long stockings. Trouser cuffs could become entangled in the wheel spokes. One observer thought the carte-de-visite portraithere showed a delivery or messenger boy in uniform. We do not believe that penny farthings were used that way. They were too expensive and unstable. What kinsd of item could be delivered on a penny farthing. It can be assumed that children pictured with 19th century bycycles were from affluent families. Actually bicycles did not become associated with children until quite late. Britain never had the fascination with cars as was the case in America. We note bikes being used by adults for convetances in Oxford and many other locations in Britain. Not a lot of children from working-class or moderate ncome families had bikes until after World War II.

Carts

Although not very common. e notice four wheeled caers. They look home made. We see Amnerucan children building such carts, using coomrcial boxes in the construction. This eventually gave rise to ther soap box races that necame popular in America during the mid-20th century. Ameican boys began building soap box carts in the 1910s-20s. Soap was shipped in wooden boxes and a convenint size for bots to work with. Soapbox races in Ameica began during the Depression (1930s). We do not yet nptice these carts in England as early as in America. We note family images with boys and variosly constructed carts aftr World War II. We do not not see soap box races in England in the mid-20th century. We note some races in England but it seems a modern activity. Red Bull is promoting them in Europe.

Scooters

Tricycles

Tinkerers were expeimentiung with tricycles as early as the 17th century. The first mention we note of tricycles in England comes from a psatent (1818). It was a lever-driven and had rotary chain drive trike. They were not initislly a child's toy. The first children's trikes were wooden and most seem to be hime made. These wooden trikes began to bevome more common (1870s), we think because of the increasing prosperity. Bicycle manufacturrs began making cast iron and forged steel-framed tricycles about the same time. These early trikes were very expensive because they were hand made. They did not look like modern trikes. Terecwere several different wheel arragements. English sources report that there were almost two-dozen tricycle manufacturers that produced over 120 tricycle designs (late-19th century). Manufacturers for a a time nuilt more tricycles than bicycles. They were, however, expendsive because of the inefficient manufacturing processes. Expensive tricycles were a symbol of wealth. Mass produced trikes which brought prices down appeared after the turn-of-the 20th century. Strean lined trikes appeared with more modern-looking designs (1930s).

Created: 8:48 PM 9/4/2004
Last updated: 5:54 AM 4/21/2020