Figure 1.--Here we see a cabinet card studio portrait of an unidentified boy on a penny fathing. Of course a boy of this age could not possibly ride a penny fathing. They were challenging hard for adults to ride. The portrait was undated, but we would guess was taken in the 1880s. The late 1870s is possible, bit the 80s seems more likely. We are nit sure about the cap he is wearing, but looks like a priest's cap called a biretta. Perhaps he was an altar boy. The portrit was found in a family photographic album. The studio was F.W. Dyer Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

A number of early steps in Europe led toward the modern bicycle, primarily in Germany and France. Ar the time this was a leading to a conveyance for adult men. They came to be called velocipedes. The first British contribution was pneumatic tires (1845). Earlier metal or solid rubber tires were used. It took some time for these pneumatic tires to become standard. The French 'boneshaker' was he first to begin to look like a modern bike. The name comes from the fact that there were no smooth paved roads. It is at this time that Britain began to take the lead in bicycle development. Britain was Europe's wealthiest country thanks to its industry an empire. These were surely major factors. It is at this time that the iconic Penny Farthing (two English coins) appeared (1870). The front wheel had a 5 ft diameter. Only an adult could ride it, and a skilled adult at that. The Penny Farthing solved some of the vibration problem, but was very difficult to ride. It was the first such conveyance ti be called a bicycle. It was not a huge consumer hit. Not only was it difficult to ride, bit it was very expensive--even for the middle class. All kinds of important improvements occurred (1870s). Here Britain's increasingly sophisticated steel industry was an important factor. The first rear-wheel-drive bicycle with a chain connecting the pedals to the rear wheel, was mass-produced in England (1880). This basic designed exploded the popularity of bikes when John Kemp Starley began selling Rover bicycle with a very modern look (1885). This is when pneumatic tires really caught on. Dr. John Boyd Dunlop seized upon them as an aid to his ill and delicate son. Mass production began (1888). These improvements began to create mass appeal and prices began to fall to more reasonable limits, although they were oil prices above the level that the working-class could afford. A major step was the safety bike (1892). It is at this time that women also began riding. One more small step in women's emancipation. Major steps also occurred in America which because of the relative prosperity, outpaced Europe in bicycle ownership. It is no accident that the first sustained flight occurred in America by bicycle repair mechanics. Mass production was underway. We do not yet have much information on the vehicles like bicycles that English children played with. While mostly made 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.

Created: 10:20 AM 5/5/2023
Last updated: 10:21 AM 5/5/2023