Early Cycle Lighting

by Peter W. Card

INTRODUCTION

Early Cycle Lighting - A new book by Peter Card - providing Identification and a Value guide for lamps. Now Available from Amazon.com OR amazon.co.uk

The pages on this site show a group of bicycle lamps that were available before the Great War. The selection is but a very small array of the many and various lamps manufactured specifically for the bicycle and tricycle. Indeed, I have no doubt that there will have been as many as 500 or more different lamps offered to the public between the years 1869 and 1939. If we add the design variations, the style changes and the still-born oddities that were manufactured, I suspect that over 2000 lamps could one day be listed.

The attraction of collecting Early Cycle Lighting can find expression in a number of forms. Some people delight in the collecting of just one type of lamp; oil, candle, acetylene gas, electric, and a good worthy collection can be created and added to from time to time. On the other hand, many collectors make the mistake of collecting everything from all periods and all countries and all they end up with is a mass of lamps. In my view it is better to create a meaningful themed collection of say 50 lamps, well displayed, kept cleaned and offering joy to your visitors rather than a vast unkempt collection with little theme, purpose or pleasure content.

An interesting and inexpensive collecting theme is that of acetylene gas burners. during the period 1895 to 1940, a vast range of atmospheric and non-atmospheric burners were designed for fitting to bicycle lamps, motor car lamps and domestic lighting. Once you start looking you will be amazed at how many different examples you can find. Please include your favourite collecting area to the visitors page.

Happy Collecting!

Lamp Names

One of the charms of collecting early cycle lamps is that they were frequently labelled with interesting names. Some of the names were meaningful, like 'The Long Distance Lamp', 'Reliance' and The Tourist'. Others were inappropriate, like 'The Rob Roy', 'Cock O' the Walk' and 'Arlington'. However, the names had a dual commercial purpose. For example, when a rider was out on a club ride recommendation and praise of a lamp was made more memorable by the use of a name rather than a number. Also, because local stores did not carry a large stock of lamps, most lamps would have had to be ordered direct from the manufacturer. How much more eloquent therefore to be able to walk into the local hardware store and ask for a "Lucas Microphote please" rather than, "I am looking for an attractive little lamp"!

Visitors to this Webb-site are more than welcome to sign the visitor's book. From time to time, more lamps from my collection will be photographed and added to these pages. On the other hand, if you have an interesting bicycle lamp that you believe others would enjoy seeing please let me have a well-focused and good definition digital image, and we will do our best to include it on the site.

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