Description Coventry Machinists’ ca 1887 Club “Boy’s Own” Ordinary bicycle In 1868, The Coventry Sewing Machine Company received an order from Paris to make a number of Velocipedes, an early type of bicycle that was popular in France. The idea was that these bicycles would be exported to France, but the Franco-Prussian War forced the company to build up a home market instead. This event heralded the beginning of the city’s cycle industry. The firm’s name was changed to Coventry Machinists’ Company in 1869 and it would get an excellent reputation as a leader in the developing velocipede market. From “The Boy’s Own Paper” 1889: “The Coventry Machinist Co. – address Cheylesmore, Coventry, and Holborn Viaduct E.C., supply a very excellent machine. Their specialite is the “Club” bicycle. (…) The brake is applied to the front wheel. Altogether the “Club” has many points to recommend it to the purchaser. The price, however, is rather higher than other makers.” The Boy’s Own was available with wheel diameters from 36 inch to 44 inch and was fitted with adjustable ball bearing to the front wheel, solid rubber tyres and round steel backbone. This 40-inch (102cm) Boy’s Own is presented in authentic condition and comes with original turned pear-shaped handlebar grips, bell-shaped handlebars, adjustable cranks with rubber pedals and strapped-on bicycle bell.
