I don’t have an 1890 or 1891 Ellis Rhoda illustration to compare with the model featured here. It actually incorporates various features from both the 1889 sketch and the illustration in the 1891 Ellis catalogue shown here, by which time a seat tube had also been added. Both 1889 and 1891 illustrations show the drive on the left, while this is on the right.
So it may be a Rhoda, but it may also be another company’s model for which there are no surviving advertisements (that I’ve managed to find). Either way, it’s an interesting example of Victorian bicycle manufacture that would have been state-of-the-art personal transportation in its day. I’ve left it completely as found after many decades of storage. It even retains its original unrestored 1890 bell on the handlebar! It’s complete apart from solid tyres. This is a wonderful opportunity for an easy restoration (easy because you don’t need to hunt for elusive parts) and is exactly how we like to find our 135-year-old bicycles.
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.
