1899 Beeston Humber Light Roadster
No 27 Convertible Tricycle
21″ Frame
26″ Wheels
Back-pedal Band Brake
Frame No 71869
(Now sold)
As you can see in the photograph above and catalogue illustration below, Humber offered their ‘No 27″ model of Beeston Humber Light Roadster Tricycle with a detachable top tube, so that it could be used by a lady. While a lady could thus mount the machine from either side without compromising her costume, a gentleman could mount from the rear, with two steps provided on either side of the rear axle to prevent his boots slipping as he reached over the saddle to grab the handlebar and brake lever to steady himself.
This example is an older restoration in first class condition all round. All the bright parts were re-nickelled and are still shiny. It is missing its convertible top tube so I will have one fabricated: if you look closely you can see that the top tube mounting brackets at the steering head and under the saddle have holes for the bolts that hold it in place. Its frame number 71869 is displayed on the steering head, and can also be seen on the left side of the chainwheel as well as on the rear hub.
It’s a wonderful example of turn-of-the-century transportation favoured by aristocrats in Britain and abroad. King Edward VII rode one, as did The King of the Belgians …and, being a ‘convertible’ model, it was also endorsed by The Countess of Dudley (Georgina Ward, a friend of Queen Alexandra, who worked for the Red Cross at this time running a nursing home for disabled veterans of the Boer War). This fabulous 125-yeaar-old tricycle is ready to ride and display.
1900 HUMBER CATALOGUE EXTRACTS
1899 HUMBER CATALOGUE EXTRACTS
HUMBER PATENT BACK-PEDAL BAND BRAKE
HUMBER PATENT REAR AXLE
There could be no finer endorsement for a Humber tricycle than knowing that members of the Royal Family rode one: “As ridden by HRH The Prince of Wales, HM The King of the Belgians and The Countess of Dudley” Uniquely, it being a ‘convertible’ model, ladies could endorse the same machine as The King.
The Prince of Wales was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (known to his family as ‘Bertie’). He became King Edward VII in 1901. He was a keen cyclist, and below you can see him with Princess Victoria, and Prince & Princess Charles of Denmark, starting for a bicycle ride at East Cowes.
