Historic town Evandale in northern Tasmania hosts the Penny Farthing race and a magnificent collection of bone shakers, some dating from the 1880s and valued at $6-8,000. The ABC TV program Collectors broadcast this episode (Episode 9) on 9 April 2010.
The earliest designs of these bikes were called walking machines, to help the straddler get around large estate gardens. They first appeared in 1817 and were not very practical for roads. Later the pedal-powered bike, the boneshaker, appeared in 1865, and its name describes the type of ride it gave on the cobbled streets of the day. With spokes, larger wheels, rubber tyres and bearings, the Penny Farthing of 1870 was faster and more comfortable. It was given the name because it looked like a penny and a farthing combined
WATCH VIDEO
Watch the segment hosted by Adrian Franklin
Episode 9, broadcast 9 April 2010.
Footage and TV snapshots courtesy Collectors ABC TV
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/collectors/video/download.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/collectors/segments/s2868839.htm
Footage and TV snapshots courtesy Collectors ABC TV
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/collectors/video/download.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/collectors/segments/s2868839.htm
Penny Farthing Race at Evandale 2010
