Manufacturers made tricycles to cater to a wider riding public.

By the late 1870s, the high-wheel or “ordinary” bicycle, as it became known in the 1890s, had created a new cycling fad. The problem was most people couldn’t or wouldn’t ride these demanding mounts, so cycle manufacturers began to design and build a variety of safer types.

Tricyclists touring in England, ca 1880

One of the first was James Starley’s “Coventry Lever” tricycle of 1876, a design incorporating his patented tangent spokes, which, in a refined form, are still used today. A year later, Starley replaced the lever drive of this tricycle with a continuous chain, and the “Coventry Rotary” (810241) was born.

Coventry Rotary tricycle, 1880

Also in 1877, Starley patented his balance or differential gear, which allowed the driving wheels of a tricycle to turn at different speeds when cornering. He incorporated this feature in his “Salvo Quadricycle,” renamed the “Royal Salvo” (810229) after Queen Victoria ordered two of them.

Royal Salvo, 1882

By 1884, British buyers could chose from over 350 different tricycles, each with its own unique combination of wheel configuration and steering, transmission and braking systems, as well as other special features. The Humber “Cripper” (810233) was one of the most popular models. Other examples in the collection are the “Cheylesmore” (810231), a ladies’ model made by Singer (810228) and the “New Special Devon” (810230).