Does anyone know when the first folder was made? I had thought the folding bicycle was a 20th century innovation for paratroopers.

Yesterday on Ebay I stumbled, much to my surprise, on this:

Early in the 1890's The Dwyer Folding Bicycle Co. in Danbury, Conn., U.S.A. produced "the very latest and best improvement in bicycles."

The manual for one of their bikes was up for auction. Fortunately, I am the high bidder.

Folding bicycles were made before ww1 and were used to equip infantry.I think they were of french and italian manufacture.Check Bianchi.