Boneshaker

Boneshaker

Boneshaker is a name used from about 1869 up to the present time, to refer to the first type of true bicycle with pedals, which was called "velocipede" (from the Latin for "fast foot") by its manufacturers. "Boneshaker" refers to the extremely uncomfortable ride, which was caused by the stiff wrought-iron frame and wooden wheels surrounded by tires made of iron.

This type of bicycle was invented in the 1860s in France, and first manufactured by the Michaux company from 1867 to 1869 — the time of the first bicycle craze, and copied by many others during that time. It fell out of favor after the summer of 1869, and was replaced in 1870 with the type of bicycle called "ordinary", "high-wheel", or "penny-farthing".

There are very few original boneshakers still in existence today, most having been melted for scrap metal during World War I, and those which do surface from time to time command high prices, typically up to about $5,000 US.

Also sometimes spelled "bone-shaker".


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  • boneshaker — ► NOUN Brit. informal 1) an old vehicle with poor suspension. 2) an early type of bicycle without rubber tyres …   English terms dictionary

  • boneshaker — UK [ˈbəʊnˌʃeɪkə(r)] / US [ˈboʊnˌʃeɪkər] noun [countable] Word forms boneshaker : singular boneshaker plural boneshakers British informal an old uncomfortable vehicle …   English dictionary

  • boneshaker — noun A velocipede (the bicycle of the late 1860s) …   Wiktionary

  • Boneshaker — any ancient and rickety bicycle or other vehicle …   Dictionary of Australian slang

  • boneshaker — Australian Slang any ancient and rickety bicycle or other vehicle …   English dialects glossary

  • boneshaker — n. (British Slang) uncomfortable and ramshackled old vehicle; early kind of bicycle that had no rubber tires …   English contemporary dictionary

  • boneshaker — noun Brit. informal an old vehicle with poor suspension. ↘an early type of bicycle without rubber tyres …   English new terms dictionary

  • boneshaker — noun (C) BrE humorous an old vehicle that is in very bad condition …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • boneshaker — bone·shaker …   English syllables

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