Bicycles: National Trends--Germany


Figure 1.--Here we see four German boys in 1952 riding their bikes. Notice the Schirmmütze caps. Three of the boys wears long trousers, but one wears black long stockings. Cycling was a popular activity for boys in the 1950s and thanks to the German Economic Miracle, many more boys had their own bikes. Note that, however, the boy on the right is using his sister's or his mother bike. The boys all have ringers, but only one boy has a light.

We note quite a few photographs of German boys with bikes. Germany did not play a major role in the development of the bicycle, but there was some work in Germany. Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn, who invented the "draisine" in 1817, two-in-line wheels connected by a wooden frame. The rider sat astride and pushed it along with his feet, while steering the front wheel. Bikes became very popular in Germany and several mnufacturers produced them. We note a few boys had bikes in the late-19th century. A good example is an unidentified German boy in 1888 with a penny-farthing bicycle. Bikes in the 19th century were not all that safe. Manufacturers by the 20th century were producing bikes that boys could safely operate, although somewht expensive for many families. Many workers used bikes for transport to work. Cars were beyond the price that workers could afford. After World War I it became more common for boys to have bikes, at least middle-class boys. We note a German father and son about 1905-10. We note Hitler Youth boys taking biking expeditions in the 1930s. We note some girls with bikes, but most of the images we have founds are boys riding them. German boys commonly wore short pants wuth riding bikes. Lederhosen were a popular choice. After World War II with the German Economic Miracle, we see many more German boys with bicycles.

Historical Development

We note quite a few photographs of German boys with bikes. Germany did not play a major role in the development of the bicycle, but there was some work in Germany. Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn, who invented the "draisine" in 1817, two-in-line wheels connected by a wooden frame. The rider sat astride and pushed it along with his feet, while steering the front wheel.

German Market

Bikes became very popular in Germany and several manufacturers produced them. The principal market was working-class men. It provided a good way to get to work. Germany unlike America, never developed a cheap car that the working-class could afford. Nor were German wages high enough to afford even inexpensive American cars. While popular with boys, only boys from affluent middle and upper-class families could afford them. Manufacturers by the 20th century were producing bikes that boys could safely operate, although somewht expensive for many families. Many workers used bikes for transport to work. Cars were just beyond the price that workers could afford. After World War I it became more common for boys to have bikes, at least middle-class boys. This is a reflection of the Geramn economy. The same was true of other consumer goods like radios. And it impacted Germany's indistrial capacity. It is why Germany when Hitler launched the War had an industrial capacity a fraction of American industry.

Chronology

We note a few boys had bikes in the late-19th century. A good example is an unidentified German boy in 1888 with a penny-farthing bicycle. Bikes in the 19th century were not all that safe. We note a German father and son about 1905-10. We note Hitler Youth boys taking biking expeditions in the 1930s. We note some girls with bikes, but most of the images we have founds are boys riding them. German boys commonly wore short pants wuth riding bikes. Lederhosen were a popular choice. After World War II with the German Economic Miracle, we see many more German boys with bicycles. We see an unidentified boy in 1957. Another example is an unidentified boy in the 1962.

Gender

Both boys and girls enjoyed bikes. There were some differences in terms of construction. A German reader explains, "The lowered, curved rack with two reinforcements for stability, the front-wheel-brake with a handle at the right side of the steering gear, the bell mounted above the gear, the luggage carrier behind, the net over the back wheel (so woman´s skirts are not caught in the wheel)." We think that this was common throughout Europe. We know it was in Canada and the United Strates. All for the same reason. This was a typical bike for girls and women. Almost all women and girls at the time wore skirts. So the reinfocing rods in front of the seat had to be lowered. Boys' bikes had reinforcing rods straight across because of course they wore pants. If you look closer at the photograph here you can see th boy on the right is probably riding his sister's bike (figure 1). Girls had trouble riding boys' bikes because of their skirts. Boys had, however, no troble riding girls' bikes. Many of the impages we have found show boys riding bikes. We suspect this was most common, but we can not yet confirm it.

Social Class

Sicial class affected who mightb have bikes. Bicycles were expensive in terms of wages. Middle-class children might have bicyckes, but few working-clas children. German workers could not aford cars as was common in America. Fathers could aford bicycles whuch they used to get to work. And simetimes mothers as well for shopping and other chores. Their children might be allowed to use them, but of course this was mostly teemafers as children could not ride adult bikes. As dad was at work during gthe week days. Boys were probably more likely to ride mom' bike if she had one. We see that in the German movie 'Die Kinder aus No. 67'. For many working-class boys, the first access they had to bikes was during the 1930s when Hitler Youth units bgan organozing biking expeditions. This of course changed after the War. The German Economic Miracle meant that most German kids would have access to bikes.







HBC





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Created: 12:54 AM 10/28/2007
Last updated: 11:03 PM 11/15/2013