1881 Ordinary Otto Bicycle
edited by David Barth, 6 June 2011.
Courtesy The Forney Museum of Transportation at 4303 Brighton Blvd., Denver,
Colorado 80216. Photos were taken in June 2011.
Bicycles of this type, with a large driving wheel, were called "ordinary," "penny farthing," "standard," and "high wheeler." The reason for the larger wheel was to provide more speed than
could be accomplished than with a smaller wheel. The name, "penny farthing," illustrates the difference between the diameter of the large wheel, like an old
English penny, to a smaller rear wheel, like an English farthing that is smaller than the penny. These bicycles were generally
not used by the average person because they were difficult to mount and dismount, and the bicycle had the propensity to dump the rider over the handlebars if it hit a curb, rock, or other
undulation in the surface.
This high wheeler has a metal seat, metal pedals, a step, and a wooden handlebar. It does not have a brake. It was built by Western Wheel Works of Chicago, Illinois.
The Exhibit number is 141.
