Trike History

The history of the creation and development of the tricycle is almost as long as that of the bicycle, but appears to be far less well documented and not to exist at all on the internet. This is a new section for The Tricycle Association Website designed to give an introduction to the history of the tricycle and particularly covering post World War 2 developments. If you have information you would like to add or any comments you would like to make please contact the TA Webmaster.

The History has two main sections "Trike Axles" and "Trike Frames".

The Abingdon, Barron, Harden/Biggs, Higgins, Holdsworth, James, Longstaff, Paulson, Rogers, Thompson and TJ Cycles, Trykit axle pages have information on them

as do the Gillott, Higgins, Jack Taylor, Kendrick, Rogers, Thompson, TJ Cycles, Trykit frame pages.

My thanks to all those who have already helped or offered support:
Mike Bamford
Geoff Booker
Norman Fenn
Miss Frobisher
Dave Hardy
Chris Hewitt
Peter Holland
Bill Hurlow
Norman Kilgariff
Fergus Muir
Andrew Pattle
Chris Paulson
John Purser
Martin Purser
Paul Stevenson
Trevor Jarvis

and from old Gazette articles:
Stan Bray
David Duffield
Alf Layzell
George Longstaff

Texts of which I am already aware on the subject are:

Derek Roberts of the Veteran Cycle Club wrote a series of articles defining the early years of the tricycle. Parts 1 -7, published 1963 - 1965 are with Martin Purser. We have just received permission to publish extracts from this series. They will be aded gradually over the next year.

Tricycles by Higgins Cycles London (Register of Higgins Tricycles) compiled by Chris Hewitt
The third edition of Chris Hewitt's Register of Higgins Cycles has just been published with details of 118 bicycles and 373 tricycles, a brief history of the marque, photos of a wide range of machines, axle diagrams and the register of current owners and machines from 1933 to 1966. A must read for all owners and trike enthusiasts alike, copies are available for £6.00 plus £1.00 P & P (UK) from Chris Hewitt, I Coleswood Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 1EF. Telephone 01582 763622.