MTFCA Forum

I figure that at least some among the Model T brethren must fool with antique bikes so I wanted to ask if anyone might have a high wheel that they would like to sell. I am currently looking for another bike, preferably a 54 inch wheel but I can ride a 56 or a 52. This is probably a long shot but I thought it worth asking.

Thanks and God Bless

Over the years I have had bicycles from the 1920's on up, but never a highwheeler. We see them at the OCF every year. This is a good place to ask. Hope you find just what you're looking for.

Believe the big wheeled bikes are called pennyfarthings.

There are usually some high wheelers, along with a few other early "safety" bicycles at Hershey.

Just this morning there was an item about a race in Hayes, UK.
By the way, the name 'Penny Farthing' comes from two british coins of the day, a big one and a smaller one.
Ignore the dutch subtitles
https://www.nu.nl/303044/video/liefhebb ... r-aan.html

(Hope this link works outside the netherlands)

Just found out that a Farthing was the smallest British coin, the value was a 1/4 old Penny, the farthing was discontinued in 1961. An old Penny was considerably biggrr than a Farthing (Farthing comes from 'fourth')

And how about this :

My brother, who lives on the east side of Dayton Ohio, has two 54” high wheel bikes that he would sell. One is an 1888 or so English made Singer, that is what I would call a semi racer. It is light weight by the standards of the day, about 38 pounds if I remember right versus normal of upper forties. It is radial spoked, with new stainless steel center less ground spokes front and rear. Nickel plating is newer, about twenty years old, when I restored the bike. I restored it to ride, but found that I was too heavy at 260 pounds, to ride it comfortably. It has deep cowhorn bars with spade grips, that were tight on my fat knees when turning. My brother was 170 pounds and it fit him very well. He loved it and rode several century 100 mile in a day rides on it with no problems at all. The tires are 3/4” front and 5/8” rear which are slightly narrower than heavier bikes of the day. Everything is original except for the spokes and the grips, which are walnut, and the paint color which is a deep blue instead of black.

The second bike is a replica, made by Edlee from Australia. It is also a light weight bike for its size. It is full tangentially spoked, with the spokes tied at two crosses. It is a great riding bike, that he also has ridden centuries on. It is blue with gold plating. These brand bikes were and are popular for racing down under.

The reason for selling is he is 75 and is riding modern bikes now. He hit a woodchuck while riding a modern bike, said they were just “cruising” at about 15-20 mph, and badly broke a collarbone, requiring 4 hours of surgery, and multiple titanium plates to put it back together, so falling off a high wheel is less exciting now!

Private message me for contact information on how to get in touch with him, if you are interested!

Happen to have a photo with contact info for folks that were at the OCF at The Henry Ford this year. They had some amazing bikes! Likely they might be able to give you a lead on something.

Well what do you know ;

The Penny Farthing is a British used name, in the U.S. they were commonly called a Ordinary, the technical name would be a Velocipede, if pedaled by a fixed crank and pedals on the front hub.

In the Netherlands they were called a "Hoge Bi" which is short for High Bicycle

There where a lot of them at Hershey. Seemed to be in the 2-4K range.