Singer tricycle ca 1898 3602-104

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 as well as encouraging them to take part in a variety of sports including Cycling, Cricket, Athletics and even a Rugby Union Team. The 1883 ‘Singers’ Football Team became the Coventry City Football Club in 1898. He also stood for civic office and was Mayor of Coventry three times.
Singer patented a number of inventions including cycle roller bearings ( pat.3,156/1879) and the curved front forks.
The tricycle we present here has been restored and spent many years in the Falmignoul bicycle museum in Belgium. She has radial spoked wheels with solid rubber tyres and a block chain with Abingdon chain tensioner. The saddle is a Lepper Bielefeld Universal. Behind the rear axle we find a pannier rack with wooden case and leather straps. Further accessories are a handlebar-mounted pocket watch and a nicely adorned period cycle bell. Braking is effected by a spoon brake on the 36-inch front wheel; rear wheel diameter is 34 inch. Length of the tricycle is 170 cm, width 93 cm and handlebar height 100 cm