Shire Velocipede, 1879
date: label: date made
content: 1879
notes: label: Description
content: The stiff wood and metal frame of velocipedes resulted in a rough ride, garnering them the “boneshaker” moniker. Propelled by pedals attached to the front axle, velocipedes were the historical antecedent to the high-wheeler and safety bicycle later in 19th century. This velocipede bears a brass plate that reads "J. Shire, Patent Reallowed May 10, 1879, Detroit, Mich." The plate is somewhat curious as the only patent granted to John Shire was patent number 216,231 which he applied for on May 6, 1879 and was granted June 3, 1879. Shire’s patent was an “improvement in velocipedes” that mainly related to an adjustable hammock-seat on the cycle.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: Associated Place
content: United States: Michigan
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Transportation, Road
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content: Bicycling
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content: America on the Move
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content: Transportation
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of C. Howard Buckler
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TR.248087
label: accession number
content: 47898
label: catalog number
content: TR.248087
objectType: label: Object Name
content: velocipede
label: Object Name
content: velocipede, wooden