Figure 1.--Here we see two English boys, presumavly brothers. The younger boy is on a tricycle. It was a studio prop. It was a postcard back print. We would guess it was taken about 1905-10. The noys look about 5-9 years old. The younger boy has a school cap and lace collar. The older nad aless common cap nd Eton collsar.

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: 10:15 PM 12/13/2009
Last updated: 10:15 PM 12/13/2009