1935 Archie Weaver tricycle

1935 Archie Weaver Tricycle

1935 Archie Weaver tricycle

Arthur “Archie” Weaver was a master craftsman.

The Weaver cycle shop on Leyton High street was a magnet for English bicycle racers in the 1920’s and ’30’s.  Tricycle racers too, apparently.

A bit of a bike nut, err, trike nut, Mr. Weaver built this magnificent racing tricycle for himself.  The rear differential was machined in the Weaver shop, and the fixed gear drives the left side wheel.  Riding on the left side of a crowned road would be really tough without a differential or with the right wheel propelling the trike.

Archie’s friend in the Glendene cycling club, C.J. Drayton, set the 200 mile time trial record on this machine in 1935.  200 miles in 11 hours and 46 minutes!

Drive wheel on the left for traction on English roads

Fixed gear with a differential

This wheel is lighter than a modern Mavic Ksyrium SL

Look at this 85 year old steel tricycle and guess the weight.  It’s made of steel tubing and looks a bit antiquated.  Would you believe that it tips our scale at only 21 pounds?  That’s with three wheels, not two!

Weaver head badge

Weaver front end

Archie Weaver frame detail

The head badge states “The Glade”, which refers to the nearby Glendene Cycling Club, a club supported by Weaver’s shop and named after a favorite spot in Wales.  The 32nd milestone on the badge most likely denotes a meeting place (or mid-ride sprint) for club members as they ride on the A11 road leading out of London.  That milestone is still in place today.

We just learned an interesting note about Mr. Weaver.  His grand-nephew Ben informed us that Archie was also an accomplished model and trophy maker. Among a varied array of cool creations, Archie fashioned the eyeballs for the puppets that starred in the “Thunderbirds” television show.