Queen Victoria’s tricycle

“Queen Victoria
my father and all his tobacco loved you
I love you too in all your forms
the slim unlovely virgin anyone would lay
the white figure floating among German beards
the mean governess of the huge pink maps
the solitary mourner of a prince “

~Leonard Cohen

It’s Victoria Day in Canada. As the long-weekend unfolds, the Union Jack flies beside the Maple Leaf in cities from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Victoria, British Columbia.

Though not everyone is celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday, the first holiday after the Canadian winter, is excuse enough for celebration and adventure.

In B.C., as provincial park campers dodge a police crackdown on liquor, a parade of colourful floats and marching bands delight thousands on Douglas Street, in the capital city that bears the regent’s name.

The last monarch of the German House of Hanover, who has come to represent all things stern and prudish, was in fact a progressive in the revolutionary age that birthed the bicycle (and women’s suffrage). In fact, the inquisitive queen was herself taken with one of the most popular inventions of the era.

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, the English Midlands, from whence I hail, was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and centre of the bicycle industry — no city more so than Coventry. There, James Starley, the man since hailed as father of the British bicycle industry, developed the Salvo tricycle.

While staying at her home on the Isle of White, in June 1881, Queen Victoria’s carriage was left in the dust by a girl on a Salvo. This thoroughly modern young lady turned out to be the daughter of the local dealer. Subsequently, Her Royal Highness ordered two of the machines, requesting their inventor accompany the delivery.

Starley hastened the order south and was given a crash course in royal protocol.

“I was quite overcome and bowed so low I nearly toppled over as I said I am very honoured, Mam. Then the gentleman led me away and I was surprised and pleased when the Prince came along and asked me to explain the working of the tricycle to him. A servant was wheeling it behind. We found a nice level drive where I got on and was soon rolling along in fine style. He seemed very pleased and thanked me very kindly.”

And so, the “Royal Salvo” was born.

A Royal Salvo, May 24, 2010, Victoria, BC

James Starley | Queen Victoria

Tagged as: british columbia, coventry, james starley, queen victoria, vancouver island, victoria