1906 Dursley Pedersen Lady's A1 Model (Nickel plated)

1906 Dursley Pedersen Lady’s A1 Model (Nickel plated)

1906 Dursley Pedersen Lady’s A1 Model

Nickel plated frame and parts

Dursley Pedersen 3-speed gear No 18357

19″ Frame

26″ Wheels

Standover Height: 29″ to bottom of seat post.

32″ to top of saddle with seat post in lowest position. It’s currently raised by 3″ which suits me with a 31″ inseam.

Frame No 3324A

This machine has the only known surviving Dursley Pedersen saddle made by the Trent Cycle Co in 1899. The Dursley Pedersen Lady’s ‘Model A1’ to which it is fitted is different from other Pedersen lady’s models and would appear to have been specially built by the company (in 1906 according to the frame number) to accommodate the Trent patent saddle.

According to the the Dursley Pedersen Study Guide: “During 1898 and 1899 the Pedersen was built by several firms, among them Humber, Singer, Monopole and Trent …Trent Cycles were the first to offer a proper lady’s frame, at the 1899 Show, previous so-called lady’s models being smaller gents models. Mr Pedersen also manufactured some complete machines himself.”

Trent Cycle Co also made “…the saddle which they extensively advertised at the time.”

So I’m not sure if this machine was one of those first lady’s models built by Trent Cycle Co in 1898/1899 and then stamped up and sold by Dursley Pedersen as a Model A1 in 1906, or if the Dursley company built the special frame to promote the saddle in order to bring in extra sales.

A nickel finish was an option on the Dursley Pedersen. It is my understanding that for a certain period (most likely until the company was taken over by Lister) all the models were nickelled prior to painting, so rubbing down the paint could produce the same finish. The nickel on this example is worn in places, so in my opinion this is a rare surviving example of a model supplied in nickel.

It’s in good working order, having been ridden by its previous owner on a number of events over the years. She sold it to me because she no longer uses it. The saddle is the correct Pedersen type, with a leather cover on top to prevent damage to the string. The mudguards are a later addition and it also has a front carrier.

When I rode it, the saddle support felt adequate and it was a pleasure to cruise around on such a unique machine.