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Press, 21 June 1980, Page 15

By

DAVID SWIFT

A trace of the turn-of-the century bicycle invented by Richard Pearse does remain. It has sat at the bottom of a cardboard box in Ashburton for seven years, the property of an antique collector.

Gordon Ogilvie wrote about the bicycle on this page in last Saturday’s edition of “The Press.” It was thought no trace of the machine remained. An Ashburton woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, read the article. She says she dropped the paper and “rushed” to a cardboard box containing material bought at an auction in 1973.

“I’m sure this is that bicycle,” she said, holding

up a small (11cm by 6cm) lead model of a Victorianera two-wheeler to a reporter this week. •

What confirms it for her is a number impressed on the back of the model — 14,507. It is the same as the patent number given to Pearse by the Patent Office on February 8, 1902, for the “revolutionary” design. Describing herself as a “respecter of old pieces,” she bought the model and various other antique bric-a-brac at a public auction at Geraldine in 1973.

“I bought two cardboard boxes full for $3l. Looking through them, I discovered some of my purchases were from the Pearse estate.” She competed with

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a young man for the boxes until he dropped out of the bidding. Trie model was to be mounted but “I never got around to it. I will now though.” Its purchaser never realised the significance of the model until reading Mr Ogilvie’s article. “Only last week a woman offered to buy it, but I refused because I love it.” The model is fairly sturdy and can be handled. The detail — even to links on the chain — is amazing. The bicycle was a “pump” action; the pedals did not turn but were pumped up and down. The lead model remains mostly

true to the description in Saturday’s article. But the model’s owner thinks the diagram published with Gordon Ogilvie’s article may refer to a later — 1906 “Improved Aerial or Flying machine” — invention. It does not conform with the model in all respects, although there are similarities. “I want to keep the model in my possession, although those who want to see it may have the opportunity.”

She had an interest in cycling herself. “My first bicycle cost eight pounds. It was more comfortable than Richard Pearse’s though.”