Box's Cycling Craze Mark Jenkinson December 2015
We featured Stella Clarke's wonderful life story a few issues ago which showed Stella as a child with her bicycle in 1919. The cycling theme recurred in the story of Box's Outings and anther of Stella's photos showed her aunt, Mary Wilkins. Now Mark Jenkinson has found underground illustrations by Box's quarrymen which pick up the cycling theme.
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There are some marvellous bicycle drawings in the quarry. These pre-date the 1900s photographs in Stella Clarke's pictures, which show quite modern-looking machines. The quarry pictures look like proper boneshaker models; note the fixed pedals on the front wheel of the picture on the left. These two cycle drawings are very similar, but they are from different parts of the quarry; of course, the artist could still be the same quarryman.
The text by the manned bike appears to say John Firefly Champion of England but I have been disappointed that I have never found anything to explain this. Would any reader be able to help?
Unusual Bicycles
The pictures below show some more unusual machines. They look more modern, with pedals and chains towards the rear.
The one below left is another boneshaker drawn above a well detailed gentleman, who appears to be called Jacob Pocock.
The remarkable photo below right is a bicycle-made-for-three, which makes me think of The Goodies.
Unusual Bicycles
The pictures below show some more unusual machines. They look more modern, with pedals and chains towards the rear.
The one below left is another boneshaker drawn above a well detailed gentleman, who appears to be called Jacob Pocock.
The remarkable photo below right is a bicycle-made-for-three, which makes me think of The Goodies.
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