2148

Bicycle

1896 Approximate

High-Wheel Bicycle. Material: metal, leather. Description: high-wheel bicycle; front wheel has 52" diameter; back wheel has 16" diameter; leather seat; curved handle bars; metal spokes; back wheel has step for mounting; peddles are adjustable; direct-drive, no chain; tires are original but deteriorating.

Donor bought the bicycle second-hand in 1896. He rode it in parades as late as the 1940s. He donated it sometime in the 1950s. See subject files for newspaper article (unfortunately not dated).It had been left for years in the basement of the museum when it still was used as a church. Tabbert had been an usher at the church in the 1930's. The high wheeler was designed to increase the distance traveled with each revolution of the pedals. The chain-driven bicycle was not invented until the 1880s.