1890-1894 Joseph Lucas & Sons ‘Pioneer’ Safety Bicycle Lamp

1890-1894 Joseph Lucas & Sons ‘Pioneer’ Safety Bicycle Lamp

LENGTH: 7″

WIDTH: 4″

HEIGHT: 7″

This Lucas safety bicycle headlamp is in very good original unrestored condition and ready to use. The Pioneer model is illustrated in an 1888 Lucas catalogue (below), though it has a more oblong shape. The initials T.B.L.W that you see inside Lucas lamps stands for ‘Tom Bowling Lamp Works.’ Peter Card explained that this was a name given to the factory when Joseph Lucas named his original ship’s lamp ‘Tom Bowling’ after a sea shanty of the period.

Lucas & Sons became a limited company in 1895, so this lamp was made before that date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1888 LUCAS CATALOGUE EXTRACTS