1896 Beeston Humber Gents' Roadster Tricycle (Australia)

1896 Beeston Humber Gents’ Roadster Tricycle (Australia)

THE BEAST ON A BEESTON HUMBER

Sally rode a a Raleigh, whilst I journeyed on a Rudge.
I said I’d stick to Sally and she said she’d never budge.
But Triumphs came, and Eagles came and BSA’s without number.
And then one day, she rode away with a Beast on a Beeston Humber.

1896 Beeston Humber Gents’ Roadster Tricycle

Humber Patent Double Action Band Brake to Main Axle

23″ Frame

26 x 1 3/4″ Wheels

LENGTH: 66“

WIDTH: 31″

HEIGHT: 44″

Frame No 44684 B

Location; Australia (The Farren Collection museum, Melbourne)

The Beeston Humber Light Roadster Tricycle made through the first half of the 1890s had an upward sloping top tube, which changed to a horizontal top tube in 1896. This example with curved top tube is interesting because the level between the top of the seat post and the steering head suggests an earlier upward sloping model. Maybe this was an interim model between the upward sloping and horizontal top tube models, or equally it could have been a one-off design as a special order for a customer.

It has what the company described as a Humber ‘First Grade’ style front fork, and it benefits from the company’s patent Double Action Band Brake to the rear axle. The suffix letter on its frame number 44684 B means it was built in the Beeston factory. It’s a large and impressive machine, though also surprisingly lightweight. Pre-dating the motor tricycles that followed soon after, the Beeston Humber tricycle was state-of-the-art transportation in its day. Subsequent modifications in 1899 included a shorter seat post, optional front rim brake, and the new design of Beeston front fork which incorporated a duplex pattern (copied from Centaur) to make Beeston machines instantly recognisable.

This machine took part in the 1988 Melbourne to Sydney centenary of the 1888 Burton & Stokes Around the World Ride. (Photos below). It has been part of the Farren Collection since the 1970s. Though it is now only used for display at the private museum and the tyres are flat, it’s in excellent all-round condition and half an hour spent oiling, greasing and pumping would see this impressive large gentlemen’s tricycle ready to ride.