On The Pegs February 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 2 | Page 74
On The Pegs
P 74
to be provided by canal boats to the Hyginus home. Once, he was out of fuel and
had to fill his tank with petroleum from a pharmacy. By solving his problem, this
flexible man was able to ride home to complete his day’s work.
With no front brake and only a meagre rear block, it was not easy to stop the
machine from a speed of 50 km/h. “You had to be careful,” he said with a smile at
the age 80. “The road conditions in those days were not like nowadays in the 60s.
You had to ride carefully and consider all the hazards, many of them not existing
any longer.”
On The Pegs
Vol. 4 Issue 2 - February 2019
P 75
Erik Hyginus remembers an incident when he was out riding around his home
turf, “I arrived at a steep hill ahead of the Halna church and had to push a little in
order to make the ascent. Consequently, I gave the engine a push by handling the
throttle lever. Arriving at the top, I discovered a man shovelling sand from a steep
ditch. When he saw me, he simply walked out on the road, obstructing my way.
‘You have to pass me with care,’ the man shouted. ‘Otherwise I will twist your neck
into oblivion and bury you in my gravel pit here.’ So, I did pass him with care.”
Before the turn of the new century, Erik had laid his eyes on some ‘photographic
apparatus’ in a monthly magazine. So, he decided to make his own photographic
device and adapted a worn cigar box for its new purpose. By using a piece of tin
plate, Erik was able to make this invention work adequately. He was successful by
developing his cigar box with further research and also produced an electric shut-
ter for which he received a patent.
By 1900, Erik was able to buy his first ‘real’ camera by mail order from the capital
of Stockholm. His technical knowledge and his imagination had no limits. In the
early 20s, Erik made a positive attempt at building his own radio receiver. This hap-
pened even before the Swedes started broadcasting news by radio. Consequently,
from the beginning, Erik could only listen to Morse signals before the national
radio began sending transmissions. Erik also installed telephones within the local
community, so his neighbours were able to talk to each other. This of course was
DAVE their
SENNING
very much appreciated as the authorities had not yet begun with
telecom
company.
But it was his interest in photography that was going to occupy most of Erik’s
time. On his two-speed Husqvarna, he rode to celebrations and confirmation
parties and earned extra money as an allowance. Mister Hyginus made his proud
motorcycle trips with his camera equipment attached to the vast rear luggage car-
rier, which can be seen on the photo. Erik also devoted time to document people
in their environments during the early stages of the 20th century. He rode his
Husqvarna until 1926 before he switched to driving a car. By doing so, he was also
able to work by night and could extend his hours for efficiency. Erik Hyginus Rud
died in 1972 at the age of 91 years. He lived, if you please, in the shadow of the
devil – being a truly happy man, who made a difference in life, simultaneously be-
ing a Husqvarna motorcyclist and a colourful photographer! n