bicycles

Queensland Bottle Tree, Narrow Leaved Bottle Tree, Bottle Tree, Queensland Barrel Tree, Australian Barrel Tree, Dandygook, Kurrajong, Queensland-Flaschenbaum. The Queensland Bottle Tree was discovered by Sir Thomas Mitchell and John Lindley in 1848 at Mount Abundance (near present-day Roma), Queensland, Australia. Aboriginal people carved holes into the soft bark to create reservoir-like structures; consumed the seeds, roots, stems, and bark; and the fibers were used to make twine, rope, and nets. The soft, edible pulp is considered to be energy-rich but protein poor. Queensland farmers have been known to fall whole trees to feedstock during drought conditions. Source: www.designertrees.com.au/trees/bottle-trees/

In the 1890s, bicycle use began to see a decline, prompting E.C. Stearns & Co. to look at a new way to promote its bikes. In a true man vs. machine, the "Yellow Fellows" bike with six riders went up against the Empire State Express train. There were a few different attempts and on July 28, man/bike prevails. At a speed of 45 mph, the sextuplet cyclists won the half-mile race.

Syracuse, Stearns, Coronado, Santa Monica, and the Big Sextuplets
centerlinerule.blogspot.com/2017/11/syracuse-stearns-coro...
is a 2017 blog piece that describes the sextuplet bicycle and explains that it was intended for training racing cyclists. It includes a newspaper picture based on this image (or a very similar one).

Newspaper articles about the races include:
* The Roanoke Daily Times., August 22, 1896, Page 6, Column 1
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95079481/1896-08-22/ed-...
* The Scranton Tribune. [volume], August 01, 1896, Page 8, column 5
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026355/1896-08-01/ed-...
* The Hawaiian star. [volume], August 29, 1896, Page 1, Column 1
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015415/1896-08-29/ed-...
* The Indianapolis Journal. July 27, 1896, page 1, column 2
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015679/1896-07-27/ed-...
* New York Times, Jan 21, 1896, page 7, columns 2 & 3
www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-times-stearns-sex...
is about new cycles at a industry show, including sextuplets.

cnymod.blogspot.com/2019/12/arthur-p-yates-forgotten-rail...
indicates that the photographer was Arthur P. Yates and has other photos of the train.

Regardless of the actual history, this is a remarkable image.

Good lord that looks dangerous.

Congratulations to all on Explore with yesterdays image of the jetty at Ballycastle and all the activity around it. Reading all the information that emerged made for a great days entertainment. Fogra Bia In all the wonderful commentary our old friend O Mac stood out and it was the general consensus among the Marys that he should be the recipient of the Virtual Sticky Bun! Enjoy!!

I think it is 13:10, but I could well be wrong ...

"Cox and Co. Pianos and Organs" Nominative determinism!

beachcomber australia That is funny!

The tram service started towards the end of 1898 and was a subsidiary of BTH The ‘vulture of Dartry’ was, of course, involved as contractor for the line and later as chairman.