For me, getting my first bicycle was my
ticket to freedom!
We
lived in Portland then, and my best friend lived
down the street; I actually learned to ride on her bike, then got one of my own
for my birthday; we rode all over the West End
together.
If my eighth birthday had been in 1902, I
probably would have received a Sears “Josephine” bicycle (the boys’ model was
called “Napolean”). It had wheels made of “the very finest swaged piano wire
spokes,” high-quality hubs, bearings, an adjustable handle bar (with “internal
expander,” whatever that was); it had
a drop curved frame with dress and chain guards – can you imagine catching your
1902 long skirt in that chain mechanism? Also had handsome front and rear crown
forks, double tube pneumatic tires; it weighed 28 pounds and came with a ten
days’ trial period.
In 1916, the Charles William Stores in New York (another mail order house) carried the “Overland Special” for only $23.95. It was available in
three sizes (20, 22 or 24 inches), had rubber extension grips for the handle
bars, a “saddle that is different,” and was “smashing all records for
tremendous popularity.” Front sprocket had 26 teeth, rear had 8 or 9. Came in
two colors: London
But if I’d turned eight in 1930, it would
have been a Elgin
The boys had options of
headlamp, horn, luggage carrier and bike stand; they also had a choice of
either a red or blue bike.
Girls were limited to blue (see
my comment above), but they got to have a “laced skirt guard,” which seems to
me a rather dubious plus.
I guess I was lucky: I turned eight in 1954,
and by then, girls were allowed to wear pants for outdoor recreation – I never
had to worry about catching my skirt/dress in the chain.
I probably would have done it on purpose.
My first attempt to ride a bike resulted in a badly broken arm, which probably delayed getting my own bike. I rode my second bike to school in fifth grade, and dresses were required for school then. I think long pants may have been more likely to get caught than short skirts.
ReplyDeleteWell, I would have done anything to not have to wear dresses at that age, so catching it in the chain would have been a perfect solution for me!
DeleteMy first & only bike was a second-hand fixer-upper, but boy, did my Dad fix it up! It was a beautiful shade of turquoise-blue, had white-wall tires, 3-speeds, fancy white handle grips with red & green reflector gems on the ends, plus a large front basket & a loud horn. It was a 12th birthday present & I loved it. I rode well, but took a few spills now & again because I was a bit of a dare-devil. Luckily, I never broke anything, but our medicine chest was full of bandaids for scrapes & bruises.
ReplyDeleteAnd wasn't it wonderful to have that sense of freedom? I remember it clearly -- felt like an adult, for crying out loud! I had a wicker basket; had fringe things coming out of the hand grips...boy, it was something!
DeleteWhat an interesting reflection on bikes. They are so popular over here at the moment (the after-effects of the Tour de France) but all the slinky smooth crafted designer bikes you see today don't seem to have the joy of those early bikes you illustrate.
ReplyDeleteThey're pretty popular over here, too, Alan -- but you're right: the joy seems to be gone, and everybody takes it so seriously...helmets and special shorts and goggles, etc. Where's the fun in THAT?
DeleteI remember my bike having a chain guard in the 1960s, when riding to school was the in thing, and presumably protected our school tunics (uniform). Where are the photos of you on your bike?
ReplyDeleteI've got a couple, Jo, but pretty boring shots: me standing, posing, next to my bike. And by the time I was in high school, nobody would be caught on a bike...it meant you didn't have a junker, you didn't have any status!
DeleteTerrific adverts! One time many years ago I met an old woman in rural England who told me a story of how the bicycle transformed her life when she was a young girl in the 1915-1925 era. She described that liberating freedom of being on two wheels with such passion it made a very memorable moment for me.
ReplyDeleteThat's how I felt about it, too. There was something about being in total control of it all...I could go places at what felt like breakneck speed; could do it all by myself -- it was wonderful!
DeleteInteresting old adverts, although the descriptions aren’t very appealing. Battleship Grey and London Smoke - oh, yes please!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of Henry Ford, who said that people could buy his Model Ts in any color they wanted, as long as it was black.
DeleteYou're going to need these ads again in a couple weeks. HA! I'm sure I never realized the flat piece over the back wheel was a luggage carrier -- I thought it was a seat.
ReplyDeleteI know, Wendy -- luggage? On a bicycle? Really? We sat on it, too -- sidesaddle, even -- and once I actually stood on it (did not turn out well...).
DeleteThanks for the blog post buddy! Keep them coming... scooter bestellen
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