The Online Bicycle Museum

STYLES: TRICYCLES

It’s interesting to note the social competition between bicycles and tricycles in the late 19th century. These two modes of transport, though closely related at the beginning, eventually developed separately into vehicles with an even greater social divide – motorcycles and cars.

Bicycles in the early era required athletic ability, so they were the preserve of fit, adventurous rich men. At first, tricycles were considered suitable only for old folks or timid cyclists. But after Queen Victoria purchased a pair of tricycles, their popularity increased, particularly among ladies, and tricyclists soon had their own magazines and clubs.

Bicycle clubs and rides invariably focused on speed and competition. Tricycling events were a female social affair, often involving a parade around town followed by tea. During their brief reign, high-wheel tricycles had an enormous influence on society, capturing the public imagination not only in Britain where they flourished, but around the world too. As a result, bicycles, tricycles and, within 20 years, motorcycles and cars, soon ruled the roads.

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Items in this Collection

1870 Velocipede Boneshaker Tricycle 5

1870 Velocipede Boneshaker Tricycle

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1869_Velocipede_Tricycle_Replica_29

1870 Velocipede Tricycle (Replica)

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1879-Coventry-Rotary-Tricycle-05

1879 Coventry Rotary Tricycle (Reproduction)

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BSA OTTO

1880-1883 BSA Otto

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1881 ‘The Favourite’ Juvenile Open (Hay-fork) Tricycle 21

1881 The Favourite Youths’ Open Tricycle (Cheylesmore style)

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1882-Warman-Triumph-Tricycle-60

1882 Warman Laxon & Co ‘TRIUMPH’ Tricycle

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1888 HHC Premier Tandem Tricycle 68

1887 Hillman, Herbert & Cooper ‘Premier’ Tandem Tricycle

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1887 Quadrant tandem tricycle 05 copy

1887 Quadrant tandem tricycle No 15

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1880s Humber Cripper tricycle

1888 Humber Cripper Tricycle

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1-1888-Rudge-Royal-Crescent-Tricycle

1888 Rudge Royal Crescent Tricycle

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1888 RUDGE ROYAL CRESCENT TRICYCLE

1888 RUDGE ROYAL CRESCENT TRICYCLE VIDEO

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1889-LADY’S-QUADRANT-TRICYCLE-00

1889 Lady’s Quadrant Tricycle

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1889 Metropolitan Machinists Co ‘Juno’ Cripper Tricycle 2 copy

1889 Metropolitan Machinists Co ‘Juno’ Cripper Tricycle

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1890s Gendron Treadle Tricycle 12

1890s Gendron Girls’ Tiller & Treadle Tricycle

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1895-Tinkham-Passenger-Tricycle-44

1895 Tinkham Passenger Tricycle

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1897 Imperial Triumph Tricycle for Gentlemen 1

1897 Imperial Triumph Tricycle for Gentlemen

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1897_Gents_Tricycle_01-copy

1897 Victorian Gentleman’s Tricycle

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1898 De Dion Bouton 1 3-4hp 5 copy

1898 De Dion Bouton 1 3-4hp Motor Tricycle

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1898 Premier Gentlemen’s Tricycle 25

1898 Premier Gentlemen’s Tricycle

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1898-Quadrant-Tricycle-031

1898 Quadrant Gent’s Tricycle ‘No 8B’ with Band Brake

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1898 Rudge-Whitworth Racing Tricycle 18 copy

1898 Rudge-Whitworth Racing Tricycle

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1898 Singer Tricycle 23

1898 Singer Ladies’ Tricycle (with underslung down tube)

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1899 Beeston Humber Light Roadster Convertible Tricycle 2

1899 Beeston Humber Convertible Tricycle

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1899-Premier-Helical-Tricycle-57

1899 Helical Premier Ladies’ Tricycle

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1899 Beeston Humber Gents’ Roadster Tricycle 05

1899 Humber Gents’ Roadster Tricycle

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1899 Army & Navy Cooperative Ladies Tricycle 05

1899 Quadrant ‘Army & Navy’ Tricycle

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1899_Quadrant_Convertible_Tricycle_03

1899 Quadrant Convertible Tricycle with Band Brake

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1899 Quadrant Tricycle 05

1899 Quadrant Convertible Tricycle with Band Brake

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1899 Singer Modele Deluxe Tricycle (Gents) 5

1899 Singer Modele Deluxe Tricycle (Gents)

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FOR SALE 1900 Premier Helical Ladies Tricycle 5 copy

1900 Premier Helical Ladies Tricycle

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1900 Rudge-Whitworth No 31 Special Lady’s Tricycle 1

1900 Rudge-Whitworth No 31 Special Lady’s Tricycle

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1900 Hughes Large Juvenile Tricycle 05

1900 Thos Hughes Juvenile Tricycle (20″ wheels)

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FOR SALE 1900s-tricycle-pedal-car-03

1900 Tricycle Pedal Car

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1901 Beeston Humber Tricycle 05

1901 Beeston Humber ‘Model 14’ Convertible Tricycle (with Band brake)

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1901-Beeston-Humber-Gents-Tricycle-27

1901 Beeston Humber 3-Speed Light Roadster Tricycle

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1901 Beeston Humber Tricycle 04

1901 Beeston Humber Convertible Tricycle (Cordner 3-speed gear & Band Brake)

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1901 BEESTON HUMBER LIGHT ROADSTER TRICYCLE

1901 BEESTON HUMBER LIGHT ROADSTER TRICYCLE VIDEO

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1901 CRYPTO Tandem Tricycle 28

1901 Crypto X Frame Tandem Tricycle with trailer

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1902-Rudge-Whitworth-Gents-Tricycle-04

1901 Rudge-Whitworth Light Roadster Tricycle 

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1901_Rudge_Tricycle

1901 Rudge-Whitworth No 31 Special Lady’s Tricycle

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FOR SALE 1903 Abingdon Tricycle with Rover patent K Type frame 5 copy

1903 Abingdon King Dick Tricycle with Rover patent K Type frame

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1903 Kingham tricycle 2 copy

1903 Kingham tricycle (Made in Aylesbury)

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1904 Tricycle Forecar 05

1904 Royal Enfield Tricycle Forecar

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1904-Swift-Tricycle-1

1904 Swift Ranelagh Gentlemen’s Tricycle

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1905 Sunbeam Tricycle 05

1905 All-Black Royal Sunbeam Tricycle

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1905 Raleigh X frame Tricycle 1

1905 Raleigh X frame Tricycle (Fixed wheel, single speed)

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1905 Rudge-Whitworth Racing Tricycle 00

1905 Rudge-Whitworth Road Racing Tricycle

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1906_Rudge_Tricycle_20

1906 ‘No 30 Special’ Rudge-Whitworth Light Roadster Tricycle

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1906 Raleigh 3-speed X frame Tricycle 3

1906 Raleigh 3-speed X frame Tricycle

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1906 Raleigh X frame Ladies Tricycle (project) 45

1906 Raleigh X frame Ladies Tricycle (project)

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1907 Rudge-Whitworth Ladies Tricycle 05

1907 Rudge-Whitworth Tricycle: No 31 for Ladies

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1908 Premier Tricycle with band brake 3 copy

1908 Premier Model 19 Lady’s Tricycle

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1909-sunbeam-gents-tricycle-021

1909 Golden Sunbeam Gentlemen’s Tricycle

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FOR SALE 1909 K

1909 Keystone ‘No 31′ Tiller & Treadle Girls’ Tricycle

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1912 James Gentleman’s ‘Model 25’ Tricycle 05

1912 James Tricycle: ‘Gentleman’s Model No 25’

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1914-Sunbeam-Tricycle-55

1914 All-Black Golden Sunbeam Tricycle

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1920s WARRICK Carrier Tricycle 06

1920s ‘The Warrick Carrier Tricycle’ (Underslung Model)

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1921 JAMES Royal Tricycle 0

1921 James Royal 2 speed Tricycle

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1922 Monet-Goyon Vélocimane type GN7 34

1922 Monet & Goyon VELO-FAUTEUIL Mixte Tricycle

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1922-Tricycle-Monet-Goyon-04

1922 Monet & Goyon VELOCIMANE Mixte ‘ Type G’ Tricycle

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jimmyjames5

1924 James Tricycle Model 25 Convertible

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1925 Sheppe Cykelaid 05

1925 Sheppee Cykelaid Motor Tricycle

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1910s-Gentlemens-Tricycle-23

1926 Brown Brothers ‘Rebo’ Gentlemen’s Tricycle

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1920s_Rochet_01

1928 Rochet Wicker-Seat Tricycle

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1930s Poirier Voiturette a Volant Tricycle

1930s Poirier Voiturette a Volant Tricycle

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1920s-Rochet-TWS-Trike-05-768×847

1930s Rochet Two-Wheel Steering Tricycle

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1937 James Samson BEARD carrier tricycle 20

1937 Beard Carrier Tricycle (James Samson Design)

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oldbike_cyclauto_1

1938 Le Super Triporteur Cyclauto

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1939_Harding_Tricycle_04

1939 Harding Safety Tricycle

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1930s James Gents Tricycle 05

1939 James Gentlemen’s Tricycle

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SIRONVAL11

1939 Sironval Sportplex Quadricycle

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1940s-George-Fitt-Tricycle-05

1940s George Fitt Government Contract Tricycle

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warrick_monarch_03

1947 Warrick Monarch Young Adult’s Tricycle with Two-Wheel Steering

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1950_Harding_Netley_Tricycle_05

1950 Harding ‘Netley’ Rotary Tricycle

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1950_Harding_Rotary_Tricycle_04

1950 Harding ‘Rideinease’ Rotary Tricycle

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1950_James_Tricycle_06

1950s James Ladies’ Tricycle

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FOR SALE 1950s Child’s Invalid Tricycle with hand controls 2

1950s Juvenile Invalid Tricycle with hand controls

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1956_Harding_CM_05

1954 Harding ‘Model C’ 32cc TWS Tricycle

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1956-Harding-05-768×785

1956 Harding Two-Wheel Steering Tricycle

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1956_Raleigh_PO_Trike_04

1956 Raleigh Prototype Post Office Tricycle

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1960s-Moulton-Tricycle-05

1960s Moulton F-frame TWS Tricycle

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1990s Tandem Tricycle Olympia Replica 05

1990s Tandem Tricycle ‘The Victorian’

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FOR SALE 1 copy

40 Inch Rear Wheels for 1880s/1890s Tricycle

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coventry roatary tricycle

HISTORY OF TRICYCLES

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john warrick cycle co reading

JOHN WARRICK (MONARCH) MUSEUM

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THE CYCLE RICKSHAW-EARLY PASSENGER VEHICLES

THE CYCLE RICKSHAW: EARLY PASSENGER VEHICLES VIDEO

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1909-sunbeam-gents-tricycle-60

TRICYCLES

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