This 1896 Humber is interesting because it is Humber’s first pattern of loopframe and, as you can see in the pictures above and below, in this first year of production the two front frame tubes do not have a bridge between them. In 1896 it was a fixed wheel model with a front plunger brake. As was common after the freewheel was introduced (in 1898) it went back to the factory to be updated with a freewheel plus the latest braking technology. A Bowden rear rim brake was added with an inverted lever to control it – a feature introduced in 1902 and used on the first motor bicycles. This makes it very practical to use, and it rides very well.
The Humber was repainted many years ago and the paint is faded in places, and also its saddle is a bit scruffy; these are insignificant matters that could easily be remedied. It’s a rare and historic machine from one of the world’s leading cycle manufacturers of the day, predating some of the better known Humber Beeston features such as the duplex fork (copied from Centaur and introduced in 1899) and the duplex chain stay (1897). The wheels are 28 x 1 3/8″. It retains its original mudguards and metal Carter gear case, and is fitted with an early rear carrier rack as well as an unusual wheel-operated bell. It’s in excellent mechanical condition and is ready to ride.
PRINCESS VICTORIA with her 1896 HUMBER
Princess Victoria of Wales with her dog Sammy and 1896 Humber safety bicycle. As you can see, it is exactly the same model as the Humber featured here. The photographs were taken at Balmoral in 1898.
WHEEL-OPERATED BELL
PEDAL CRANKS & METAL CARTER GEAR CASE
James Harrison Carter was born in Brighton in 1841. He patented the Harrison Carter gear case, which was made for him by Orme Evans & Co of Elgin Works, Wolverhampton. This company displayed it at The Stanley Cycle Show in 1889, where John Marston saw it and bought a license to use it on his Sunbeam bicycles. Humber also purchased it and adapted it to fit on their machines, describing it as the ‘Humber-Carter’ gear case.
