Few 200-year-old hobby horses have survived. So replicas were built by cycle enthusiasts to enjoy the sensations that would have been experienced by the original pioneers. There were no pedals in those days. To move forwards, the rider sat astride of the machine and walked it along, and then coasted once they had built up sufficient speed. It was known as ‘Swift-walking’.
1819 Denis Johnson Hobby Horse (replica)
LENGTH: 78″
WIDTH: 22″
HEIGHT: 47″
30.5″ wooden wheel rims, spokes and hubs & metal band tyres
Exhibition stand (which fits under the saddle)
(Now sold)
The few surviving original hobby horses are in museums or private collections, and are much too valuable to use on the road. So enthusiasts build their own, and many also ride them in vintage events. The interesting thing about this type of machine is that despite it being over two centuries since the Hobby Horse was invented, traditional carpentry, blacksmith work, saddlemaking and wheelwright skills have not changed that much. So it’s possible to use similar methods of construction to create replicas.
The example featured here was crafted in 2020 for a Scottish exhibition, during August 2023 when Scotland hosted the UCI Cycling World Championships. It is supplied with a stand which fits under the saddle. The hobby horse has a wooden body, and the wheels, ie rims, spokes and hubs, are wooden, with a ‘tyre’ of metal.
It was built to a very high standard and is a functional machine. It’s in excellent condition all round, and is ready to ride.
DENIS JOHNSON’S HOBBY HORSE
Denis Johnson (born 1760) was a coachmaker who patented the ‘Pedestrian Curricle’, or ‘Hobby Horse’, in England. His premises were located at 75 Long Acre, London.
It seems that just over 300 machines were built, with production having been estimated at around 25 a week. Two were sold in May 1819 to the Duke of Northumberland for £11 each. The early machines were steered by long, curved, iron rods that connected to the front wheel hub, but most were made with the handlebar operating directly onto the top of the front forks. Johnson managed to improve the hobby horse with iron forks instead of wood, and a curved frame that was more elegant and lighter (around 50 lbs).
Riding schools were established to teach people how to ride this revolutionary new form of independent transportation.
ITS EXHIBITION STAND
BICENTENNIAL OF THE DENIS JOHNSON HOBBY HORSE
I worked as the publicity officer at the International Cycling History Conference at The Guildhall in the City of London in 2018, so I attended this nearby event celebrating the 200 year anniversary of Denis Johnson’s hobby horse. I photographed enthusiasts riding their (replica) hobby horses to Johnson’s original shop at 75 Long Acre in Covent Garden.
PINNOCK’S CATECHISM OF MECHANICS
The following explanation of the Hobby Horse appeared in ‘Pinnock’s Catechism of Mechanics,’ published in 1823.
