Past & Present: The Bicycle (colour litho)

The Bicycle. Hobby Horse. About 1817, Baron Drais v Sauerbronn invented a machine which became popular in England and America under such names as velocipede, hobby or dandy horse, pedestrian curricle, etc. It was propelled by striking backwards upon the ground with the right and left foot alternately, 10 mph being sometimes attained; but the merits of the hobby horse did not enable it to survive the ridicule heaped upon it. Motor Cycle. The motor cycle, introduced about 1901, has gained enormously in efficiency and popularity during the present century. There are many varieties, ranging from the light 1.72 hp machine to powerful racing models capable of over 120 mph. Illustration for one of a set of cigarette cards on the subject of Past & Present issued by Wills in 1929.