Child's Penny Farthing - A statement of Significance

Child’s Penny Farthing Cycle
MOV ref. bar code 00014653

The penny-farthing or high wheel cycle as it was also known, was first built in 1869 by a Frenchman named Eugene Meyer. It marked the beginning of a new age for cycling, offering an efficient mode of transport with regards to the speed and distance that could be travelled. Not only does this machine represent an important development in bicycle design, it was a part of cycling becoming a social activity and a sport. This is demonstrated by the fact that it brought with it clothing fashions for riding, and more importantly, ushered in the dawn of cycle racing. The ‘ordinary bicycle’ as it was named was essentially enjoyed by the affluent that had the money to purchase such an item, and the time to devote to using it in a social and sporting context. Considering this makes the notion of a child’s penny-farthing even more significant. This would have been an expensive toy, and perhaps an indicator of the importance given to learning to ride such a machine by a father.
Ridden sitting virtually on top of the front wheel, it is a direct drive design, with the pedals directly connected to the hub of the drive wheel. In the pursuit of performance the wheel was made larger to increase speed and reached a size of 60”, halted only by the limitation of the riders inside leg measurement. The result was a machine whose aesthetic looks would be instantly recognisable against proceeding bicycle designs. This golden period for the penny-farthing lasted only 16 years until the development of the Rover Safety Bicycle in 1885 that utilised a drive chain and gear, and the now common diamond shaped frame. After this the penny-farthing quickly faded from general use, but has remained as a novelty bicycle and a special interest to enthusiasts.