The Emergence of Bicycling and Automobility in Britain by Craig Horner

Author:Craig Horner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Figure 5.6 The financier Edward Pennington made ludicrous claims in his catalogues, playing on wide public ignorance of the abilities of the new motor traction. Here, in G. N. Martin’s illustration, the ‘Flying Pennington Cycle’ (1896) is made to leap a ravine of sixty-five feet: From H. O. Duncan, The world on wheels, vol. 2 (Paris: privately pub., 1926), p. 688.

The new consumer was increasingly identified as distinct from the previous world of Jarrott’s ‘old brigade’ who increasingly was being recast as a relic of his time. By 1914, motorists thought of themselves as ‘old timers’ if they had been driving ten years before. The environment had changed so much that Henry Sturmey felt it necessary to suggest ‘duties’ by which the new motorist should abide, such as showing consideration for cyclists and passing horses with care. This was indicative of the new type of motorist: ‘most people who drive cars have been [cyclists]’, but ‘there are drivers who have never cycled’,108 he said. ‘Automan’ asked what had become of our ‘friends of the early days? Where are the Bollee’s, Benz’s and such like, or the belt-driven cars?’,109 referring to vehicles from the 1890s, few of which were ever available even then. In a review of a book, The Motor wrote that to be a good driver in the old days was to understand the engine and transmission, and the early motorist was a ‘rare bird’; that was altered now. The roads are now ‘full of swiftly moving traffic’ – ‘an entirely new set of conditions has arisen which needs special attention’.110

The status of the ‘old brigade’ was cemented with the setting up of ‘old timer’ networks, particularly after the First World War. Most notable was the Circle of Nineteenth-Century Motorists, formed in 1927 and open to anyone who could prove they had driven a motor vehicle prior to the Thousand Mile Trial of 1900. About 250 members were elected and participated in grand annual dinners, with, it seems, eyebrow-raising entertainment,111 before declining membership caused it to be wound up in 1960. That it was necessary to have two references, and that each application was scrutinized by the honorary secretary Montague Grahame-White is an indication of the social credit that membership brought.112 Edge was quick to join, and his handwritten notes on many of the application forms shows he was involved closely in the vetting process thereafter. Fellow members included Henry Ford (1863–1947) and Herbert Austin. Open only to men (even guests at the dinners had to be male), this was truly a list of the clubbable. Edge was also in the Fellowship of Old-Time Cyclists, a fraternity of older cyclists who also enjoyed meeting over dinners. Membership was restricted to those born before 1873113 and included many who straddled the cycling and motoring worlds.

Buyers of (new) motor cars were becoming more conscious of style, a prejudice encouraged by entrepreneurs who needed to sell subsequent motor cars to the same customers. Older cars were now referred to as ‘crocks’, compared

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