Mk IV Prototype from September, 1885, built by Stephen Golder.
25″ Frame
Front wheel 31″
Rear wheel 28.5″
This replica represents the 4th prototype Rover safety bicycle, being the first completely functional model. Though the Rover was the first successful safety bicycle, their first prototypes had steering issues. This was solved by Stephen Golder, who was a test-rider for Rover. Golder redesigned the Rover safety bicycle to create this prototype with improved steering. In September, 1885, he rode it for 50 miles in 3 hours 5 mins and 45 seconds to create a world record for a safety bicycle (16.13 mph). This was in a 100 mile race where he competed against 3rd pattern Rovers.
At the time this model was known as Stephen Golder’s Rover. Although it is an excellent riding machine, Starley did not want to use it as his sales model. Starley & Sutton therefore redesigned the frame, and the next model (with curved seat stay) became the first successful production model of the Rover safety bicycle.
Only one of the Golder prototypes was built, and Starley gave it to The Science Museum in London in 1901, shortly before he died. Paul Knight used it as his pattern when he built this replica. The only difference I can see is that the handlebar on this replica is not tightly curved like the Science Museum example, but is wider, following the lines of the picture of JK Starley (above). This superbly made historic replica is a one-off, made by Paul for his own use (now taken by me in part-exchange). I’ve added a video of me riding it, so you can see that it’s ready to ride and display.
1885 ROVER AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM
This machine was built as a copy of the Science Museum Rover (above). You can see it being built below.
THE HISTORY OF THIS BICYCLE
This machine is considered the 4th prototype Rover safety bicycle. The article below was written by Peter Gilbert and John Gilbert, compiled from notes by George Gilbert, founder of Centaur Cycle Co.
RIDING THE ROVER
THE HISTORY OF THIS BICYCLE ACCORDING TO THE ROVER BOOK
James Starley was an important figure in the early cycle industry. His work colleague at Coventry Machinists’ Co was William Hillman, who had an equally illustrious career. Together they designed and patented the Ariel wheel which enabled the building of the first ‘Ordinary’ bicycles, and each left CMC to form their own cycle firms. James Starley died in 1881 and his nephew JK Starley took over, establishing the company Starley & Sutton whose primary model was The Rover.
The picture illustrating a famous (mythical) race was published in November, 1885. It shows the Rover competing against Hillman’s Kangaroo safety which was the dominant safety bicycle at the time, in order to beat a record set by Hillman’s Kangaroo geared front driver bicycle the year before. However, the drawing is misleading – they raced at different times; and after the Rover’s record, Hillman’s machine was raced again to set a better record. However, it does illustrate the competition between JK Starley and William Hillman and their respective cycle companies to create the first successful ’safety’ bicycle.
