RARE ‘NORTHFLEET’ LEVER-DRIVEN GENTLEMAN’S SAFETY BICYCLE THE NORTHFLEET ENGINEERING WORKS COMPANY, KENT, CIRCA 1897 the drop frame with twist-grip handles and five-speed gear system (126cm long, 84cm high) Footnote: Provenance: The Earls of Crawford and Balcarres, Balcarres House, Fife, Scotland Note: Following the popularity of the iconic Penny-Farthing, bicycles in the late 19th century were very much seen as items of conspicuous consumption, and many considered cycling a dangerous sport for men. To ensure mass appeal, manufacturer's experimented with a range of technological innovations which would encourage the idea of cycling as a leisurely pursuit. This variation of the common safety bicycle has an unusual drive mechanism in which the pedals are connected to wire cables which pull the wheels forward via a coil and pulley system. In addition, the lower frame and equal sized wheels provide a far safer means of travel, which coined the term 'saftey bicycle'. Commonly used by police and postmen, this roadster-type design is very similar to the European City bike, which remains popular today, especially in Germany and the Netherlands.