VETERAN CYCLE GUIDE until just before the First World War, when production ceased, quite a large number survive and are very collectable, although original examples of the pre-1904 machines are rare. The Roadster machine entered this year dates from 1900 and is one of the earliest machines to be built by this company.
Humber Marriott and Cooper & Humber Thomas Humber was a pioneer of bicycle manufacture who started making velocipedes in the late 1860s in Nottingham. His company soon grew into one of the largest bicycle makers of the Victorian period. From 1877 to 1886 Humber traded as Humber Marriott and Cooper, which was a partnership formed with Thomas Marriott in 1875 and, two years later, Fred Cooper, to supply the growing demand for bicycles. The partnership dissolved in 1886, but by that time Humber bicycles were established as a major make. The company had a reputation for high quality and innovation. with its Beeston models being regarded as the elite machines ridden by Royalty and titled classes during the 1890s’‘ Society Boom’. In the Run this year we have an 1879 56” Ordinary and an 1880 54” Ordinary, accompanied by an 1893 early pneumatictyred Humber-type Safety and a 1902 pneumatic-tyred Safety Roadster bicycle.
Moss and Mitton Moss and Mitton were cycle makers trading from Alfred Road in Nottingham and were one of the smaller makers that grew up to service local demand when cycling began to grow as a recreational activity. Often the identity of their machines has been lost, as their output was so small and there are no surviving illustrations of them. In this instance, the makers applied a brass badge which enabled a positive identification. The example in this Run dates from c1884.
Overman( Victor) Founded by Albert H Overman, the Overman Wheel Co. produced the Victor bicycle from its Boston, Massachusetts factory from 1885 and was a major competitor with the Pope Manufacturing Company. This year we have an example of an 1891 Victor Spring Frame solid-tyre Safety bicycle on the Run for the first time.
Premier Premier bicycles were made by the firm of Hillman Herbert and Cooper from the 1870s, which became The Premier Cycle Company in 1891. The company enjoyed great success, producing over 40,000 machines a year by 1897. However, the downturn in bicycle prices led to the company struggling to maintain its market share and it was late, compared to other Coventry bicycle manufacturers, to diversify into the motor trade, which it finally did in 1907 with a motor car and a motorcycle the following year. The Premier company pioneered manufacturing techniques which increased bicycle output and influenced other cycle companies, particularly the Raleigh Cycle Co. Ltd. In this year’ s Run the marque is well represented with a 1903 Gents’ Roadster bicycle and an 1898 pneumatictyred Premier tricycle.
Quadrant The company originated from Lloyd Brothers’( Walter and Arthur Lloyd) company, set up in Birmingham in 1880 to make safety pins and curtain hooks, but which entered production of tricycles in 1883, registering the Quadrant name. The company moved on to producing bicycles and in 1897 became the Quadrant Cycle Co., trading from Sheepcote Street in Birmingham. They introduced a chainless bicycle using a crossroller gear in 1898 which continued in production well into the Edwardian period. The bicycle on this Run, however, is a Gents’ pneumatic-tyred Safety bicycle from 1901, equipped with a conventional chain drive.
Raimbault Mollot( Peugeot) This French machine is an interesting example of fin de siècle engineering and style based on its design features and components and is dated c1901. Although we know the maker from the badge, there is little that can be found about them. However, the similarity of the head badge design to Peugeot and the 1901 Peugeot catalogue shows a head badge so similar to the one on the Raimbault Mollet that one is drawn to the idea it might have been produced at the Peugeot factory. Its frame number of 67184 would fit quite nicely with Peugeot production c1900 and suggests that Peugeot probably made the machine for a company selling to the retail trade.
Already established as a business engaged in foundry work in 1810, Peugeot became involved in bicycle manufacture from 1882 onwards. The company made good quality bicycles for the home market and export and grew to be one of France’ s major manufacturers of bicycles and later motor cars.
Rover The Rover Cycle Co. Ltd. was formed in 1896 from the business of JK Starley and Co., which had successfully marketed the safety bicycle design in 1886 which‘ set the fashion to the world’ and established the reputation of the business for high quality products and innovation, including later diversifying into motorcycle and motor cars. Although Starley died in 1901, the company prospered under its new name
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