This firm commenced in business in the late 1870s and juvenile machines were originally a speciality including the ‘Coventry Wellington’ and ‘Juvenile’. Based at Townend Cycle Works, Payne’s Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire. The original works were taken over by Humber & Co. Ltd. By 1892 the firm was producing adult machines too including the ‘Adult’, ‘Townend’, ‘Unassuming’, ‘Wellington’ and ‘Wellington Harrier’. The Model ‘M’ for 1892 had a patent coned crank and was also supplied with chain adjusters by way of a draw screw bolt having a collar encircling the spindle; possibly the first of this type. With cushion tyres it sold at £17 or £31 with Dunlop or Seddon pneumatics. The youths ‘O-B’ for 1892 sold at £11 5s with cushions or £16 with pneumatics. There were about a dozen other varieties in 1892.
As you can see, this is a scaled down version of the adult ‘Cripper’ tricycle that was introduced by Humber. As Humber bought Townend’s Coventry factory, perhaps this is actually a Humber, and Townend was allowed to sell it as their own model? Its standard of manufacture is as high as for an adult model, so its purchase would have only have been an option for a rich family. It is in excellent preserved condition and ready to display and ride.
View in the Online Bicycle Museum
BICYCLE COLLECTORS CURATED ONLINE AUCTION, Summer 2026
This Timed Auction is live. Highest bid wins.
NO BUYERS or SELLERS PREMIUM.
THE RESERVE IS THE START PRICE + BUY-IT-NOW OPTION.
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY: NO PACKING FEES.
BIDDING INCREMENTS: Up to £1000 = £10. Over £1000 = £50. Over £2000 = £100
IT’S A CURATED AUCTION – Colin is the auctioneer and is available to chat to you personally during the auction (or before) by email, text message, phone call, Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.
