Jan 23rd, 2018 : Pedestrian Curricle

[xoxoxoBruce]

Karl Drais's Draisine was all the rage with the young wealthy Dandies in Europe but both were much ridiculed by the common folk.

Denis Johnson created an improved version of the German Karl Drais's Draisine, the archetypal bicycle. Johnson's ‘pedestrian curricle’ was patented in London in December 1818, becoming Britain's first bicycle. It featured an elegantly curved wooden frame, allowing the use of larger wooden wheels. Several parts were made of metal, which allowed the vehicle to be lighter than the continental version.
Although Johnson referred to his machine as a ‘pedestrian curricle’, it was formally referred to as a ‘velocipede’, and popularly as a ‘Hobby-horse’, ‘Dandy-horse’, ‘Pedestrian's accelerator’, ‘Swift walker’ and by a variety of other names.

Johnson made at least 320 velocipedes in the early part of 1819. He also opened riding schools in the Strand and Soho.
In May 1819 he introduced a dropped-frame version for ladies to accommodate their long skirts.

But that was then, 199 years ago, and this is now.
A Brit named Glynn Stockdale from Knutsford has been a bike enthusiast for more than 40 years.
Some people are just funny like that, and usually have a reputation around town.
You know, a warning to mothers to keep children and pets locked safely away.

Stockdale got a call asking if he was interested in an old bike they found in a barn they were tearing down. Yes, he was.

Mr Johnson made 320 bikes in 1819, after registering to patent them in 1818, but it is thought there are only 12 in existence today.
This bike is believed to be the oldest as the bikes were numbered chronologically.

Not much of a looker, but I'll bet better than you'll look a 199 years old.

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