Description

Cheylesmore Tricycle


These were made at the Coventry Machinists Company factory in the Cheylesmore area of Coventry England.

Tricycles like this were made for those who did not want to ride the high wheel Penny Farthing bicycles of the day. The Penny Farthing bicycles were considered too dangerous. This type of tricycle was also very popular with the ladies that wore the voluminous skirts that were fashionable at the time.

The Coventry Machinists Company started as a sewing machine manufacturer in 1859. Soon thereafter, they started to manufacturer bicycles and tricycles. In 1896, it became the Swift Cycle Company.