Ordinary Bicycle ca 1884 44-inch This sturdily-constructed ordinary has a 44-inch ( 112 cm) driving wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel. It has double steps, thick spokes and straight handlebars. She was once part of the falmignoul Museum Bicycle Collection.
Velocipede ca 1869 possibly Michaux It is generally accepted that Pierre Michaux (1813-83), a serrurier or locksmith, and his son Ernest (1849-89) produced his first ‘boneshaker’ by converting a hobby-horse to provide cranks to the front wheel. Henri Michaux claimed in a letter that Pierre Michaux thought of the idea and Ernest executed it. There is some uncertainty when this happened but it appears likely that it was in 1864 (although 1855 and 1861 have been suggested). However there is a compe ...
Velocipede ca 1870 This velocipede has a wrought-iron frame with some original lining visible. The saddle has been repaired and is fastened on a leaf spring. The spoon brake on the rear wheel is operated by turning the flat sprung handlebars. The 34-inch (85 cm) front wheel has wooden spokes, the 28-inch (70 cm) rear wheel has metal spokes. The wheels have plain bearings. Length is 165 cm, handlebar height is 120 cm. This basic boneshaker spent many years in the Falmignoul Collection.
Ordinary Bicycle ca 1880 This ordinary has a steel tubular frame and solid rubber tyres on radially-spoked wheels. Front wheel is 54-inch (ca 137 cm), rear wheel 18 inch (ca 45 cm). The saddle is probably original but in rather soiled condition, the spoon brake is not present. The text on ball bearing housing reads “The Aeolus Patent No. 3531 W Bown Maker”. The bell-shaped saddle has turned wooden grips. Accessories with this ex-Famignoul Collection Ordinary comprise handlebar-mounted bell and w ...
Rover ca 1888 cross frame safety bicycle This Rover cross frame safety bicycle was part of the Falmignoul bicycle collection, owned at the time by Mr. Ernest Wouters. She has 30-inch wheels, spoon brake on front wheel, solid rubber tyres on radially-spoked wheels. The steering head is still open, this would be developed into socket steering some time later. The saddle is original and accessories comprise leather tool pouch and handlebar-mounted pocket watch.
Velocipede tricycle ca 1870 This tricycle has a wrought iron frame and wooden spoked wheels with iron rims. The saddle is fixed on a leaf spring. There are acorn weights on the pedals and braking is effected by a spoon brake on the 35-inch (90 cm) front wheel. The rear wheel has a diameter of 23 inch (59 cm), length is 170 cm, width 105 cm, hight of steering wheel is 120 cm. This rare velocipede tricycle was part of the Falmignoul Cycle Museum Collection for years.
BMW 1928 R63 734cc OHV transverse twin frame # 21327 engine # 75357 In 1928 BMW presented two new 500s, the side valve R52 and the overhead valve R57. The company also provided engines in the 750 cc class with the same cycle parts: the 745 cc side valve model R 62 with bore x stroke of 78 mm and the 734cc ohv R 63 with bore x stroke of 83×68 mm. The R63 was with its 24 hp a spirited performer on the road but it was also raced by the works alongside its 500 cc stablemates. Like the latter, it pio ...
BMW 1955 R50 494cc transverse twin with Steib sidecar frame & engine # 552156 In 1955 BMW creates its R50, R60, and R69 models. These new models have a similar engine and the same shaft-drive as earlier models, but are fitted with modern swinging fork rear suspension for the first time. The telescopic front forks of earlier models are abandoned though, in favour of the swinging or “Earles Fork” system. The cycle parts are finished in BMW’s signature black scheme set off by white pin striping. Th ...
BMW 1982 R100RT 980 cc OHV opposed twin frame & engine # 6234522 In the autumn of 1976, after three years, the /6 series is replaced by the /7 series for the 1977 range. The 898 cc capacity of the top /6 models is now upped to 980 cc by enlarging the bore from 90 to 94 mm. There are three models in the 980cc class, the “basic” R100/7, is a pleasant tourer, the more sporty and powerful R100S and the top model, the R100RS. In 1978 a R100 with full touring fairing , taller windshield and higher han ...
Moto Guzzi 1947 “Airone Turismo” 247cc OHV single frame # 26656 engine # 72678 In 1932 Moto Guzzi had decided to move into the lightweight market. At first this was the 175cc class that enjoyed various advantages in taxation and driving licence regulation, but when these were abolished the public interest in the 175cc class waned and Guzzi decided to increase the displacement of its little P175. At first the step was made to a 232cc machine but in 1937 the PL was introduced with 247cc capacity a ...
Starley ca 1882 Royal Salvo Tricycle From around 1880 tricycles were developed as alternative mounts for people that found it difficult or dangerous to ride an ordinary. At the Stanley Show of 1883, 289 tricycles were exhibited while the number of bicycles was only 233. James Starley’s Royal Salvo, first presented in 1877, was one of the most popular tricycles of its time, thanks largely to Starley’s invention of the “balance gear,” which acted as a sort of differential. As you pedalled the sing ...
Rudge ca 1885 Tricycle Daniel Rudge was born in January 1841 in Wolverhampton. Rudge, a skilled engineer, became interested in bicycles through his friend Walter Phillips. In 1869 Walter Phillips and George Price became interested in the new cycle industry. Price was primarily interested in the business end of cycle manufacture, whereas Phillips was interested in the actual making of cycles. The two realised that to successfully manufacture cycles they would need a skilled engineer to design par ...
Singer ca 1898 Tricycle George Singer (1846 – 1909) was a pioneer of both cycle, motorcycle and automobile development. In 1869 he moved to Coventry to work at the Coventry Machinists Company, where he became works foreman. Around 1874 he started his own company to manufacture cycles. For some years in the late 1880s and early 1890s, Singer was the country’s largest cycle company, with a comprehensive range of bicycles and tricycles. He was a philanthropist and took great care of his workforce a ...
Peugeot ca 1890 Tricycle Cycles Peugeot was founded in the early 1880s, making it one of the oldest bicycle manufacturers in Europe. The company started manufacturing the “Grand Bi” and within a number of years various models were produced, including tricycles. The nicely-restored specimen we offer here has an interesting frame with triangular strengthening struts. Next to the driven chainwheel a differential is placed. Braking is effected by a spoon on the front wheel, that has a diameter of 23 ...
Triumph 1911/14 in TT roadster trim 3 ½ HP 499 cc frame # 190190 engine # 31277 TTU Winning the single cylinder class in the 1908 TT races on the Isle of Man gave an enormous boost to sales of Triumph machines. From 1909 on a special “TT roadster” model was to appear in the catalogues. In the 1910 TT eight Triumphs started, of which five were ridden by amateurs. All of them finished the 158 mile course; in fact they were the first eight single cylinder machines to finish, showing again the relia ...
Harley-Davidson 1965 FLB “Electra Glide” 1207 cc OHV V-twin frame & engine # 65FL1962 video: https://youtu.be/UILHEZyE2VQ In 1948 H-D presented a new engine design with chromium-plated steel rocker covers that resembled cooking pans and the new engine soon was christened “Panhead”. In 1958 the 1207 cc Panhead was equipped with both telescopic front forks and a swingarm rear suspension, the latter’s action controlled by a pair of outsized, chrome-covered shock absorbers. It was a big step forward ...
DOT 1927 Super Sports 350 cc OHV JAP frame# 3204T engine # IO / I 80041 The firm’s origins are obscure: founder Harry Reed stated many times in his sales brochures that the name Dot had been seen on motorcycles since 1903. He was certainly in business at this time as a cycle frame builder and dealer in a shop on Eccles New Road, Salford, and it was here that he fust became interested in motorcycles. But whether he was building motorcycles for sale then is not certain, as records of his early yea ...
Triumph 1927 “TT” 498 cc OHV frame # 701980 engine # 121964 WMT video: https://youtu.be/iep4URgbpOA Triumph’s first sporty OHV machine was the Ricardo: it was conceived in 1921 when the company decided to enter the 1921 TT with an overhead valve model. Ricardo and Co. Ltd. were given the order to develop a four valve racing engine. That is to say, the engine bottom half to be used was essentially that of the side valve model SD and many cycle parts were SD too, so only cylinder and head were to ...
Harley-Davidson 1942ca “WLC” 750cc side valve V-twin frame # 401169 engine # 42WLC9683 Harley-Davidson began producing the WLA in small numbers in 1940, as part of a general military expansion. The later entry of the United States into World War II saw significantly increased production, with over 90,000 being produced during the war (along with spare parts the equivalent of many more). Harley Davidson would also produce a close WLA variant for the Canadian Army. This model was called the WLC. P ...
Wooden Boneshaker ca 1875 This artisanal-made early wooden bicycle has wooden pedals on adjustable pedal cranks. The leather saddle appears original and is mounted on a leaf spring. The spoon brake on the rear wheel is operated by a string. Front wheel diameter is 90 cm, rear wheel diameter is 80 cm. Total length of this early machine is 170 cm, handlebar-height is 130 cm. This impressive wooden bicycle once belonged to the famous collection of the bicycle and motorcycle museum in Falmignoul, Be ...