From 1892 until the end of the 1890s, the Crypto hub gear was used by many cycle firms to make either a ‘Geared Front Driver’ or a ‘Geared Ordinary.’ Both were considered ‘safety bicycles’ because they were lower to the ground than ‘ordinaries.’ But the subtle difference is in the wheel sizes. The ‘Front driver’ had a front wheel between 34″ and 38″ diameter, and a larger rear wheel; while the layout of the Geared Ordinary resembles a scaled down version of a full size ordinary (aka penny farthing) with a proportionally smaller rear wheel. This example has a 42″ front wheel and 18″ rear.
Though the hub (#4616) was obviously supplied by Crypto, we don’t know for sure if Crypto supplied this frame too, or if it was built by one of the many other cycle firms who used the Crypto hub. It shows a frame number 1020, which suggests a modest production run …though numbering could have started at #1000! It’s fitted with single tube tyres, and has been sympathetically restored so that it can be ridden as well as displayed. This rare machine is ready to ride.
View in the Online Bicycle Museum
BICYCLE COLLECTORS CURATED ONLINE AUCTION, Spring 2026
This Timed Auction is live from 21st of March 2026 @ 2-30pm to 4th of April, 2026. 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.
