Besides the Jules Verne Victorian Aesthetic...
 

Functionally, what is this amazing array of sproingyness doing for one's arse?:

http://www.brooksengland.com/images/...iddle_jc95.jpg

Haha! Right?!

Although as a Frenchman, Verne might argue the aesthetic is more Belle Epoque than Victorian!

Thanks for the new term..."Belle Epoque," learn something new every day!

Oh man, the flashback!

Although I don't remember the front spring model, Brooks saddles with rear springs were all over the place in the 1970's (and if the web is to be believed, for some 90+ years before that, too!)

(I suppose somebody's gonna tell me the Schwinn Varsity isn't the top selling bike any more, either... :) )

Those saddles are meant for riding "sit up and beg" style bikes on unmaintained dirt roads. Although it would fit right in on an steampunk inspired velocipede.

Functionally, the same support and comfort as this saddle:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=338042

But much better.

One thing .. if you read about the others that had a Broken rail on their 2 wire un spring B17's

the rough ground compresses the coil spring and so the saddle frame takes the Flexing where designed,

and reduces tke possibility of the metal fatigue on 2 rail saddle frames..


But Hey, If you are going Steam Punk look for the Central Park ,'Look at Me' strut, it's the way to Go..

Verne would surely have preferred copper-plated rails, not black and chrome...