The Pinkerton Collection

The Pinkerton Cycle Collection was started almost by accident, or at least by avoiding one..............

Riding a 1927 Royal Enfield Combination to Saundersfoot in South West Wales in September 1965, John Pinkerton found himself in desperate need of a toilet. Sennybridge, where he had stopped, was not blessed with a public convenience. Having parked off the busy main street at the rear of some cottages, a request to use an outside toilet was initially refused on the grounds that it was broken. A quick inspection showed that the actuating arm was unhooked from the siphon bell; re-hooking it put everything in order and relieved John’s immediate problem. The lady of the house was delighted to hear the familiar sound of running water again; it brought a smile to her face and offers of payment, which of course was refused. However, if the old loop-frame ladies bicycle that the lady had was looking for a good home, John would be pleased to accept it in lieu of payment. So the first bicycle, a ladies’ Raleigh popular c1911 was earned for the collection.

Interest in pedal-cycles as an alternative to a 976cc v-twin Royal Enfield had been aroused by a veteran-cycle rally in Kidderminster organised by Les Wooding of the Vintage Motor-Cycle Club. By this time Dorothy, John’s wife, and their two young boys, David and Douglas, needed to participate more than being passengers in the sidecar. Veteran-Cycle events were ideal and later led the boys into cycle racing on old and new machinery, and eventually the trade itself.

By 1972 the collection had grown and some of the cycles had been restored. A visit to Arbury Hall, a stately home near Nuneaton, led to the display of four cycles. The exhibition grew as more machines were added to the collection. After 26 years, when it was decided not to open the hall to the public in October 1998, a new home was needed for the 100 plus display of cycles and associated material.

In addition to contacting midland locations where the collection might be re-house, the net was cast further afield. The National Cycling Centre, at the Velodrome, Manchester was one of the locations approached. From the outset they displayed a real enthusiasm for having a unique exhibition of cycle history at a place where established riders raced regularly and future champions were being trained, and were pleased to re-house part of the collection.

Initially the roof high above the arena, from the Technical Services cabin across to the Media cabin was ideal for exhibiting the ‘’Profile of Cycle History’’. Unfortunately, the need for access for maintenance on the roof decreed that they be moved to be displayed against the panels above the windows of the East perimeter concourse which provide a neutral back-drop for the exhibits. The top of the Velodrome 'shop', the South Bank Grill and the west concourse became the resting place for the rest of the exhibits.

The National Bike Week Track Meeting in June 1999 was an ideal launch date.......................

The collection was split into four main themes:-

1/ Profile of Cycle History (1820 - 1990)

2/ Multi-Wheelers (1878 - 1890s) Presently under construction..........

3/ Variations of cycle design (1880s - 1980s)

4/ Children's cycles 1880s - 1960s) Presently under construction..........

Return to The Pinkerton Collection Home page

Return to Cycle Jumbles.info