After peace was declared in November 1918, British cycle manufacturers returned to making bicycles for the civilian market.
But, at first, demand outstripped supply, mainly due to a shortage of components, in particular gear cases, saddles, chains, pedals.
Raleigh offered a basic range in their 1919 and 1920 sales catalogue. As you can see from the note in the 1919 catalogue, above, the company could not guarantee that their bikes would meet the specifications on offer. By 1921, they were back to full capacity.
Being well-made at a reasonabale price – with a top manufacture behind it and lifetime guarantee – the Popular Raleigh, in Lady’s and Gent’s designs, was one of the country’s top-selling bicycles.
1919 Popular Raleigh ‘Model D’ Gents Roadster
Three-Speed Sturmey Archer Gears
26″ Frame
28″ Wheels
(Now sold)
This post-WW1 raleigh Gent’s Roadster is in very good unrestored condition. It is currently in my workshops being mechancially restored. As you can see from the catalogue excerpts further down the page, it is very original, with the benefit of a full lighting set.
Large frame machines such as this 26″ frame roadster were often used by Police Constables.
PHOTO LOCATION:
THE OLD STEINE, BRIGHTON
The Steine is at the end of the London to Brighton Road, one of England’s most important roads for many years.
In Brighton’s early days, The Steine was the social centre of the town. An open green area with a stream running through it, it was where local fishermen traditionally laid out and dried their nets. When the first fashionable visitors came down from London in the late 18th century, it naturally became the fashionable centre, and the fishermen moved out.
The very first building in fact built on the eastern side of the Steine in 1760 was a circulating library built by a Mr Baker. This wasn’t a library as we would think of today. When you, as a fashionable Regency visitor, came to the town towards the end of the 18th century, the first thing you’d do was go to one of the circulating libaries so you could sign on. You paid over a sum of money, and in return you were allowed to sign on in the ‘Master of Ceremonies’ book. The Master of Ceremonies made sure that the balls that were being held in the Castle Inn didn’t clash with balls that were being held in rival establishments, like the Old Ship. He made sure that your name was known to other visitors in the town. It meant that people would know you were in town, and would know to call upon you or invite you to the various social activities that were going on.
From the mid-1770s, railings started top be fitted round the Steine, so that it became more of a controlled area. In fact, the Eastern Lawns of the Royal Pavilion were originally part of the Steine. The enclosure of the Steine continued throughout the nineteenth century. As more of the town’s promenades were developed, they became rival fashionable areas. The Steine duly became an area for shops and a terminal for coaches (and, later, buses) from London.
Info on the Old Steine, Brighton, thanks to: John Roles at Brighton Museum
