Bicycles and Velocipedes
Velocipedes or bicycles or tricycles . . . whatever the name, the bike has been the first rapid transit vehicle for children for generations. These are the photos of those bikes and their riders.
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Bicycles are a part of most people's lives - either as a child, an adult, or both. It seems like they've been around forever but it wasn't until the early 1800's that the first bike was introduced to the public. Just a decade or two later, the first camera was invented so we're lucky enough to have plenty of photos of the development of the bicycle.
Consider these interesting - and fun! - facts about bikes:
- The first "horseless carriage" wasn't a car - it was the bicycle. That's what Karl von Drais, a German baron, called the bike he invented to help him get around faster. Two-wheeled and pedal-less, it was propelled by pushing his feet against the ground.
- The term “bicycle” wasn't used until the 1860s, when it was coined in France to describe a new kind of two-wheeler with a mechanical drive - yay, no longer having to push against the ground with your feet!
- The Wright brothers, who built the first fixed-wing flying airplane, operated a bike repair shop in Dayton, Ohio. They used their workshop to build their airplane - the Wright Flyer
- The longest tandem bike? It had 35 seats and was about 67 feet long!
- It is estimated that there are 1 billion bicycles in the world, more than double the number of cars. It's also estimated that there are 50-100 million new bikes made every year.
A recent study says that people who ride bikes have a "unique blend of intelligent generosity" and possess the "cool" factor. Perhaps those who regularly ride bikes as adults are also thrifty - a bike costs 20x less to maintain than a car - and is earth-friendly. Certainly these vintage photos show that our ancestors were cool and "with-it"!
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A photo of George Arthur Howlett
People in this photo:
c. 1892 - 1915
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May 8, 2014 by: Sandra Marshall
Sandra Marshall
3 favorites
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This little lady is my great Aunt (by marriage) Cora Belle Johnson (1875-1963).
She was married to Sherman Frederick Lucas.
People in this photo:
1875 - 1963
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Nov 26, 2013 by: Larry Jordan
Larry Jordan
69 favorites
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dad, Daniel Johnson, when he was little boy.
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
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Apr 23, 2013 by: Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson
8 favorites
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Jan 11, 2012 by: Ancient Faces
Ancient Faces
446 favorites
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A photo of John D. Rockefeller, full-length portrait, standing with a bicycle
People in this photo:
Jul 8, 1839 - May 23, 1937
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Jan 9, 2012 by: Ancient Faces
Ancient Faces
446 favorites
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A photo of Archie Roosevelt (5th child of Presidet Theodore Roosevelt) on a bicycle.
People in this photo:
1894 - 1979
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Jan 9, 2012 by: Ancient Faces
Ancient Faces
446 favorites
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A phoot of "me and my bike" on Thanksgiving Day at Riverside Park. Written on the back: Nov. 23, 1944. Buddy, 5 yrs., 9 months, 8 days.
A photo of George Kennedy, son of Aaron and Sarah.....Worked
for the Oakdale Water Works where he also had a bicycle shop. Married to Alice Learned. Married to Lillian Thurber, 1 child Charles. Married Sofia widow of his cousin Guy Dunfee. His mother was Sarah Kane Kennedy Barnes.
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
Added
Jan 27, 2004 by: Joan Garcia
Joan Garcia
12 favorites
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A photo of a boy, surname Russell, on a bicycle. It looks like it was taken in the early 1900's. I found this photo in an antique store so I don't have any more information about this Russell boy. Do you know him?
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Sep 5, 2020 by: Jesse Dean Williams
Jesse Dean Williams
302 favorites
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Sep 3, 2020 by: Jesse Dean Williams
Jesse Dean Williams
302 favorites
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Son of John Milton and Mary Carter. Married to Mary Alice Havens-Carter.
People in this photo:
Feb 9, 1888 - Unknown
Added
Jul 31, 2020 by: Jennifer Ridner
Jennifer Ridner
148 favorites
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This is a photo of Adin Parker Tyler added by Brigette Meeker on July 14, 2020.
People in this photo:
Jun 3, 1884 - Jan 12, 1951
Added
Jul 14, 2020 by: Brigette Meeker
Brigette Meeker
3.82k+ favorites
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Jean was only 5 when he was sadly killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau on September,1942.
People in this photo:
Apr 17, 1937 - September 1942
Added
Feb 21, 2020 by: Alyssa McIntosh
Alyssa McIntosh
6.76k+ favorites
Topics:
A photo of Edward Hurlbut
People in this photo:
Dec 19, 1929 - January 1987
Added
Jul 25, 2019 by: Taunji Hurlbut
Taunji Hurlbut
44 favorites
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A photo of Viola Gershaneck
People in this photo:
Oct 21, 1925 - August 1981
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Jun 30, 2018 by: Dougald MacArthur
Dougald MacArthur
6 favorites
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A photo of Paul M. Jeannelle in Elwood Indiana. 2nd from right. Born in Liepvre FR 1869. Died st Louis MO 1911.
People in this photo:
1869 - Feb 26, 1911
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Mar 7, 2018 by: David Jeannelle
David Jeannelle
2 favorites
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A photo of a young couple on bikes with puppy. 1900Found in Suitcase in the Attic . Notice the wardrobe, she has nice fluffy blouse, he has a tie and boots
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Mar 4, 2018 by: Jon Henderson
Jon Henderson
116 favorites
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A photo of Helen (Motowski) Zettler
People in this photo:
Dec 31, 1927 - 2002
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Oct 1, 2017 by: Susan Benjamin
Susan Benjamin
64 favorites
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Enrica was arrested at her hometown in Rome, Italy then deported to Auschwitz Death camp on October 18, 1943 then sadly murdered 5 days later at age 5.
People in this photo:
Apr 19, 1938 - Oct 23, 1943
Added
Jan 10, 2017 by: Alyssa McIntosh
Alyssa McIntosh
6.76k+ favorites
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This is a photo of my uncle, Lt. John Lynn Mort; caption says "Seeing France via bicycle".
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
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Jan 3, 2017 by: Marlene Christopher
Marlene Christopher
239 favorites
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A photo of Joel Delft with his friend, 1943 .Joel was sadly murdered at Sobibor Death Camp on May 7, 1943 at age 6
People in this photo:
Oct 5, 1936 - May 7, 1943
Added
Dec 28, 2016 by: Alyssa McIntosh
Alyssa McIntosh
6.76k+ favorites
Topics:
This is definitely a photo of Callie Ballard's son Jimmy. the date I have listed on the photo was a past assumption, I now think it is more likely to be later than 1923. Could be in Nebraska And if my researching is near correct, I think he is the son of James L. Gill. but don't accept that as gospel yet.
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Dec 18, 2016 by: Kelly Sullivan
Kelly Sullivan
272 favorites
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A photo of Joy Anderson with her bike and a puppy in the basket. This photo, as well as all the Sutela family photos I posted, were contributed by William "Bill" Ostrom, a cousin.
People in this photo:
1943 - Unknown
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Aug 12, 2016 by: Deb Lindsley
Deb Lindsley
41 favorites
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This is a photo of Helen Alice Levine (Fowler) Moir and Dr John Wilson Moir added by Sarah Lennon on June 20, 2016.
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Jun 20, 2016 by: Sarah Lennon
Sarah Lennon
17 favorites
Topics:
Added
Feb 11, 2016 by: Steve Payne
Steve Payne
94 favorites
Topics:
A photo of Annie Lee Merek or Meek & Archie Stevenson of Fulton, Kentucky. Vintage Photos Lost & Found on FB - Annie Lee Merek / Meek, Archie Stevenson, found in Memphis, Tennessee. Locations mentioned in album include Fulton, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
Added
Jan 2, 2016 by: Victoria Vassar
Victoria Vassar
25 favorites
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A photo of Meijer Kroese, posing with his bicycle in Amsterdam. Meijer was sadly deported to Sobibor and murdered in 1943 at age 6. Can't imagine-kids use to love bike riding in the 30's and 40's and kids like Meijer were forbidden to ride bikes during the war.
People in this photo:
Sep 27, 1936 - Jun 4, 1943
Added
Dec 30, 2015 by: Alyssa McIntosh
Alyssa McIntosh
6.76k+ favorites
Topics:
A photo of George Andrew Ashworth, Jr. from my mother's (Mary Louise Ashworth) photo album who was his first cousin.
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
Added
Aug 20, 2015 by: Mary Jackson
Mary Jackson
49 favorites
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A photo of an unknown woman - "Lady with a bike" original. Black and white version of this photo has also been submitted under the Del Grosso surname. Nothing is known about the photo or the photo's subject.
Added
Aug 1, 2015 by: Devonna Del Grosso
Devonna Del Grosso
3 favorites
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A photo of an unknown woman: "lady with a bike" Odd picture, probably a relative. Found this picture when my Uncle passed away. He was the last to leave the farm so he had all the old photo's. I have no idea where or when this picture was taken. The original is very yellow
Added
Aug 1, 2015 by: Devonna Del Grosso
Devonna Del Grosso
3 favorites
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A photo of Leslie George Chambers - 15 years of age. Won this bike race by the width of a tyre.
People in this photo:
1911 - Mar 15, 1989
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Jun 5, 2015 by: Fiona Woolfrey
Fiona Woolfrey
57 favorites
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A photo of Augustus Callaghan
People in this photo:
1890 - Unknown
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May 10, 2015 by: Robin Knight
Robin Knight
4 favorites
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A photo of Karl Thommessen, from Oslo, Norway. Though I suspect the photo might have been taken in Frankfurt, Germany.
People in this photo:
Nov 22, 1898 - Jan 12, 1992
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Apr 20, 2015 by: Randi Thommessen
Randi Thommessen
185 favorites
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A photo of Barbara (Dippold) Honis in 1943
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
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Apr 8, 2015 by: Jennifer Wademan
Jennifer Wademan
60 favorites
Topics:
A photo of Geoffrey Alexander Goodwin
People in this photo:
Dec - Jul 29, 2013
Added
Apr 2, 2015 by: Bob Goodwin
Bob Goodwin
31 favorites
Topics:
A photo of Elmer Otis Hubler
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
Added
Mar 29, 2015 by: Junell Typer
Junell Typer
45 favorites
Topics:
A photo of Aaron v Slason 1933 - 2001
People in this photo:
Jan 27, 1933 - Apr 7, 2001
Added
Nov 8, 2014 by: Dee Slason
Dee Slason
11 favorites
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A photo of Henry J. Endom and family
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
Added
Aug 25, 2014 by: Carol Richardson
Carol Richardson
34 favorites
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A photo of great grandpa Frank Lawrence
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
Added
Aug 20, 2014 by: Linda Couget Naquin
Linda Couget Naquin
43 favorites
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cruisin! Ruth Peck on bike, Upton Peck with his dog in middle & Roland Peck on other side. Sibling photo.
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Jul 30, 2014 by: Laura Terry
Laura Terry
398 favorites
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A photo of Madeline M Martz Corderman
People in this photo:
Nov 27, 1922 - May 2, 2002
Added
Jul 23, 2014 by: Miranda Gerholt
Miranda Gerholt
383 favorites
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Photos of Flournoy Shepperson Jr
People in this photo:
Nov 22, 1914 - Aug 30, 1976
Added
Nov 19, 2013 by: Vance Shepperson
Vance Shepperson
4 favorites
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Now THIS is a Halloween costume - if you can outrun Orkin! And evidently, this pest has found the way to do it . . . hop on your bike!
Added
Oct 23, 2013 by: Kathy Pinna
Kathy Pinna
27.2k+ favorites
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A photo of Matti Rissanen on a bike.
People in this photo:
Mar 15, 1894 - May 1969
Added
May 11, 2013 by: Marilyn Calvert
Marilyn Calvert
8 favorites
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Just look at the clothing worn by women bicyclists early in the century. From the album of Howard Van Buskirk.
