Reynolds and Mays
W. F. Reynolds and J. A. Mays
No. 4 is a 'Phantom' bicycle, invented by W. F. Reynolds and J. A. Mays, 10 King Street, Tower Hill, London. Patent No. 1216, 1869. The following is an extract from the original specification in the patent:— "The wheels of the machine are constructed on the suspension principle." This is one of the earliest instances of suspension wheels.
It will be noted that the spokes are in pairs, one wire making two spokes: the ends of the wire are held between the two halves of the hub-flange, and the wire is threaded through an ‘eye’ screwed into the wooden rim or felloe. The hub is built up of three parts; centre barrel carrying the inner half of each flange, and the two outer halves of the two flanges: the whole is fastened together with screws, gripping the spoke ends as previously mentioned. The main subject of the invention was the principle of hinging the frame between the two wheels, which enabled the machine to be turned in a small circle; but it was extremely ‘tricky’ to steer. This was one of the first machines to be fitted with rubber tyres: the rubber was vulcanised to a strip of canvas, and nailed to the wooden felloe with ordinary nails about 1.5 inches apart. Note the foot-rests for use when running down hill.
The “Phantom " made its first appearance in a race on the top terrace at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, on 27th May, 1869, its rider winning the event. Wheels 36 inch front, 32 inch back. Weight 63 lbs. Purchased in Brighton, Sussex.
The earliest instance of the use of rubber tyres on a bicycle locates the date as November, 1868, and the rider one J. Hastings, who is stated to have tested the innovation over thirty miles of snow-covered roads. His tyres were flat or convex shaped strips of canvas-backed rubber, nailed on top of the usual iron rim or felloe. I have a “boneshaker" fitted with such tyres.[1]