Western Union messengers, 1911, Norfolk
10-21-16 | 12:05 AM
#1
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Disco Infiltrator
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Western Union messengers, 1911, Norfolk
This popped up as an illustration on a news story, but I found the photo more interesting, and followed up to find some more. Apparently part of a series on child labor. These were some tough kids, 105 years ago!
https://www.loc.gov/item/ncl2004002945/PP/
https://www.loc.gov/item/ncl2004002961/PP/
https://www.loc.gov/item/ncl2004002937/PP/
https://www.loc.gov/item/ncl2004002936/PP/
https://www.loc.gov/item/ncl2004002945/PP/
https://www.loc.gov/item/ncl2004002961/PP/
https://www.loc.gov/item/ncl2004002937/PP/
https://www.loc.gov/item/ncl2004002936/PP/
Raymond Bykes, Western Union No. 23, Norfolk Va. Said he was fourteen years old. Works until after one A.M. every night. He is precocious and not a little "tough." Has been here at this office for only three months, but he already knows the Red Light District thoroughly and goes there constantly. He told me he often sleeps down at the Bay Line boat docks all night. Several times I saw his mother hanging around the office, but she seemed more concerned about getting his pay envelope than anything else. Location: Norfolk, Virginia.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
10-21-16 | 10:53 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Disco Infiltrator
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,345
Likes: 3,542
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
And Hodges Gallop, to be sure! These kids are about the same age as my grandfather, who was born in 1897 and had his one daughter fairly late in life, 1944.
The bikes... They all have bells. One has a (kerosene?) head lamp. But other than that, they are quite stripped down. No fenders or chain cases. I can't see a coaster brake arm... does that make them fixies? They have swept handlebars that are about level with the saddle. Some of them are clearly too tall for their rider, others look about right, but none look too small. The tires are medium sized. Probably a lot of cobbles and dirt in 1911.
The geometry is quite raked out, look how the top of the tire is higher than the fork crown. Some Powerpoint engineering places the angles at about 68 deg but the seats are cantilevered in front of the post instead of set back like a modern bike. They're quite long, too, with a fist of clearance between seat tube and tire.
The bikes... They all have bells. One has a (kerosene?) head lamp. But other than that, they are quite stripped down. No fenders or chain cases. I can't see a coaster brake arm... does that make them fixies? They have swept handlebars that are about level with the saddle. Some of them are clearly too tall for their rider, others look about right, but none look too small. The tires are medium sized. Probably a lot of cobbles and dirt in 1911.
The geometry is quite raked out, look how the top of the tire is higher than the fork crown. Some Powerpoint engineering places the angles at about 68 deg but the seats are cantilevered in front of the post instead of set back like a modern bike. They're quite long, too, with a fist of clearance between seat tube and tire.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 10-21-16 at 11:04 AM.
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