“I, FREDERICK JAMES HORTOP, of The Limes, 6 Mostyn Road, Brixton, London, Cycle Expert, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described…
…in the construction of tubular frames of cycles and especially cycles of the ‘safety’ type or the front frame of tricycles, and in order to secure greater lateral as well as vertical rigidity or stiffness combined with resiliency, I substitute for single tube members compound members, using two small tubes crossing each other…”
– Patent No 2888, dated 11 november, 1901
In the early years of cycling, the patent business was as lucrative as selling bicycles, though a patent holder needed to be prepared to take action against infringements. Small time inventors were not usually in a position to finance litigation, so they generally sold their patents to cycle companies or investors. I’m not sure who bought the Hortop patent. As their Girplex was very similar, I assume it was New Imperial, which might account for the fact that up to now we have not heard of any surviving Hortop X frames.
The X frame patents of the early 1900s were hotly contested. Frame builders had to create designs that were sufficiently different from previously patented designs, primarily those of Raleigh, Referee, Centaur, Elswick and Hortop. The latter two used entwined small tubes, Elswick for the down tube and Hortop for the top tube and cross tube.
Not much is known of F.J Hortop. I’ve found mention of him being the official referee in a cycle polo match between Australia and England in 1899. And he wrote a dedication in Bartleet’s Bicycle Book in 1931. There’s also a report of him being seriously injured in a cycling accident with a horse carriage in 1896 and being associated with Victoria Cycle Co of Watling St, London, EC in 1897.
This is believed to be the only surviving Hortop X frame. Though now I’ve published this I hope it might spur a memory and another may come to light?
Mine was owned by Mr. T.S Vickery, who had a cycle shop in Ealing, West London. It was on display in his shop for many decades until it was bought by a local enthusiast from Mr Vickery’s son around 20 years ago. We believe Mr Vickery Senior built it for himself using BSA fittings. He published a 1910 sales catalogue (shown further down the page) advertising ‘Mohawk’ cycles (a North London firm). Some of the bicycles in his catalogue used BSA fittings like this X frame.
1910 X Frame (F.J Hortop’s 1901 patent)
Built with BSA Fittings by T. Vickery of 1 King’s Parade, South Ealing, West London
Lycett’s LaGrande saddle
BSA toolbag & inflator pump
(Now sold)
Of all the bicycles I’ve bought, sold and collected over the years, this is probably my most exciting find. I knew of Hortop’s 1901 patent (illustration below) but did not know that any had survived. I still have a few more jobs to do on the bike, but I couldn’t resist taking some photos of it when I rode it for the first time this week past Brighton pier.
F.J HORTOP’s X FRAME PATENT, 11 November, 1901
1910 T.S VICKERY CATALOGUE EXTRACTS
F.J HORTOP
F. J. Hortop·, of the London Devonians C.C, was recently run over by a four-wheel van while riding with some friends in the Clapham Road. The van carried no light. Hortop was severely injured, although not nearly so badly as might have been expected, considering the weight of the van.
1911 NEW IMPERIAL GIRPLEX X FRAME
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1911 NEW IMPERIAL GIRPLEX X FRAME
PLEASE CLICK HERE
