1873 HJ Lawson ‘Sussex Dwarf’ – the first Safety Bicycle
23″ Wheels
LENGTH: 57″
WIDTH: 24″
HEIGHT: 46″
The First ‘Safety Bicycle’ was Built in Brighton!
Harry Lawson designed the first chain-driven ‘safety bicycle’ in 1879. But its earlier prototype was built in 1874 with James Likeman at their workshop at Regent Foundry, North Rd, Brighton. The example you see here was built by Paul Knight from Lawson’s drawings held at The Science Museum.
As you can see in my photos, apart from the chain, it essentially uses velocipede technology. Apparently Lawson’s prototype was built using wooden velocipede wheels. However, by the time the prototype was built, metal wheels were already being used for ordinaries. So Paul built metal wheels for it so we can see how it would have looked (and ridden) had it been accepted by the cycle industry at the time.
Regent Foundry was demolished in 1921, so I photographed it in Foundry St, leaning against one of the old workshops (the eastern boundary of the Regent Foundry site).
The lever-driven safety bicycle Lawson had patented in 1876 with James Likeman was built and sold by Haynes & Jefferis in Coventry. In 1878 Lawson sold his Brighton business to local cycle maker W.H Halliwell, and moved to Coventry, where he became involved in the Haynes & Jefferis business.
Backed by Coventry solicitor George Woodcock, they merged it with the ‘Tangent & Coventry Tricycle Co’ and Lawson became the manager. The business was relocated to Ariel Works, Trafalgar Street, Coventry. In 1880, Woodcock acquired Dan Rudge’s business and moved the works to Coventry with Harry Lawson as sales manager. The new concern was renamed the ‘Rudge Cycle Co.’
In the 1890s, Lawson became involved in the beginnings of the motor industry and attempted to control it in Britain by acquiring patents. As one of many attempts to promote his schemes and lobby Parliament for the elimination of the Red Flag Act, Lawson and Frederick Simms founded the ‘Motor Car Club.’ After the Act was repealed, Lawson organised the first London to Brighton car run, the ‘Emancipation Run’ on 14 November 1896 to celebrate the event.
The Foundry pub was already serving drinks in Harry Lawson’s day. So I rested his ‘Sussex Dwarf’ against it for a few more photos. When the weather improves, I’ll take it back to Foundry Street and invite people to ride this historic bicycle up and down the street where its prototype was originally built.
