Pentacycle ca. 1885 replica 3501-72

Pentacycle ca. 1885 replica
Designed by Edward Burstow, an architect from Horsham in Sussex, the Pentacycle is steered by the small outer wheels whilst the main wheel is turned by pedals at the centre. One of the practical uses of the vehicle was mail delivery. The two large baskets at front and rear were a vast improvement in delivering an increased quantity of mail and many Pentacycles were rolled out to postmen in the Horsham area. The bike was notoriously difficult to steer and was hard work on hills so, although the Post Office saw the benefits, many of their staff did not.(Source: Lakeland Motor Museum). The Horsham Museum website mentions that the Pentacycle was patented in 1881 as “Centre-Cycle”. An adapted design was submitted to the Post Office to be used for post and parcel delivery, but after completing trials the Post Office announced that the vehicle was not suited for their purpose. The designs with large central wheel driven by pedals, complemented by four smaller stabilizing wheels, apparently earned the vehicle the nickname “hen and chickens cycle”. Up to now an original specimen has not surfaced; Around 1990 a Mr Bill Silvester built about five of these Pentacycles, most of which are displayed in museums.