We have supplied Military Bicycles, amongst others, to –
ARMY SERVICE CORPS…………………………..Woolwich
ARMY SERVICE CORPS……………………………..Chelsea
57th Field Battery ROYAL ARTILLERY………….Lahore
58th Field Battery ROYAL ARTILLERY………Woolwich
LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT……………………Woolwich
2nd LANCASHIRE REGIMENT…..Kampere, Banaglore
1st ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS………………….Sheffield
1st IRISH FUSILIERS………………………………Allahabad
5th ARDWICK V.B REGIMENT……………….Manchester
ARMY SERVICE CORPS…………………….Curragh Camp
THE KING’S REGIMENT…………………………Colchester
SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT………….Warrington
CONNAUGHT RANGERS…………………………..Sheffield
QUEENS REGIMENT………………………………….Woking
– 1901 Quadrant Sales Brochure
The Quadrant Cycle Co was an industry pioneer. They described themselves as ‘contractors to Her Majesty’s Government’ during the 1890s. When hostilities broke out in South Africa they were ideally placed to supply military bicycles for the war effort. The military model they introduced in 1900 for the British Government was a state-of-the-art machine for its year, featuring freewheel with back-pedalling brake. In 1901 they added a kit rack and cycle stand (‘leg rest’).
Various companies had introduced a band brake in 1900, notably Sunbeam, Humber, BSA and Triumph. Each used the same principle but were individual to the particular company in design. Back-pedal operation was via a rod pivoting under the bottom bracket.
A rear carrier, or ‘kit rack’ as Quadrant described it, was a recent invention which came into being directly as a result of the introduction of the freewheel in 1898. Prior to this, the main exit route from a bicycle was to the rear, so a rear carrier was not a viable proposition; however, with the freewheel, the development of rear brakes took a quantum leap and cyclists had less need to jump off in an emergency. Quadrant’s patent kit rack was adopted by the War Office as part of their specification for a military bicycle. Quadrant’s patent ‘leg rest’ was also included in the War Office pattern for a military bicycle, officially introduced in 1901. Illustrated below, it was given the designation ‘BICYCLE (MARK 1) HIGH. MEDIUM. LOW.’
1901 Quadrant Military Bicycle
with Quadrant Freewheel & Back-Pedalling Brake
24″ Frame
28″ Wheels
Quadrant’s standard ‘military bicycle’ model did not include a rear brake. It was essentially their earlier model in basic form with added accessories. Innovations in cycle braking technology were the talking point in 1900 and 1901, so a back-pedal band brake was an option that an officer would be tempted to order as an extra on his new military bicycle.
THE QUADRANT FREE WHEEL & BACK-PEDALLING BRAKE
