Shooting Star: a Biography of a Bicycle
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SHOOTING STAR: A BIOGRAPHY OF A BICYCLE Geoff Mentzer 2 SHOOTING STAR: A BIOGRAPHY OF A BICYCLE Copyright © 2020 by Geoff Mentzer All rights reserved. 3 In a scientific study of various living species and machines, the most efficient at locomotion – that is, the least amount of energy expended to move a kilometre – was found to be a man on a bicycle. –SS Wilson, Scientific American, March 1973, Volume 228, Issue 3, 90 The Dandy Horse of 1818, said to be the first velocipede man-motor carriage. Sharp, Bicycles & Tricycles: An Elementary Treatise On Their Design And Construction, Longmans, Green, and Co, London, New York and Bombay, 1896, 147 4 INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS What began as a brief biograph of the author's forebear Walter William Curties soon doubled into a study of two men, and expanded into an account of early bicycle – and a little motoring – history in New Zealand. Curties is mostly invisible to history, while Frederick Nelson Adams – who rose to national pre-eminence in motoring circles – by his reticence and reluctance for public exposure is also largely overlooked. Pioneering New Zealand cycling and motoring history – commercial, industrial and social – have been variously covered elsewhere, in cursory to comprehensive chronicles. Sadly, factual errors that persist are proof of copy and paste research. As examples, neither Nicky Oates nor Frederick Adams' brother Harry was the first person convicted in New Zealand for a motoring offence, nor was the world's first bicycle brass band formed in New Zealand. It must be said, however, that today we have one great advantage, ie Papers Past, that progeny of the Turnbull Library in Wellington. Of course, we do not necessarily believe all that we read; media then as now did make mistakes. However, OCR word search combined with lateral thought generally brings the facts to light. And Papers Past, together with The New Zealand Wheelman, have provided the bulk of detail in this narrative. Beyond those are the usual genealogy resources – too numerous to list – along with records held by the Turnbull Library, Archives New Zealand and other repositories; published articles and books; and the only instance of personal memoirs, a handful of letters by Curties. These are in private hands, are deeply intimate and have been described as harrowing. Other material relating to him has sadly been lost in house fires. Illustrations are most noticeable by their paucity. While there are several published drawings of Adams and Curties' Christchurch premises, no photographs have been located. And while there are a few photos of Adams, none has yet been found of Curties. By luck, a photo album belonging to Frederick Adams' brother George Uvedale was found in a garage sale. Held privately in Christchurch, the album includes numerous shots of people, sadly none positively identified or dated. Further, a quantity of glass plate negatives apparently retrieved from Adams' last home address is also in private hands in Christchurch. Since photography was a hobby, and his house included a studio, these plates may include family members and work-related images. Access to the plates, however, has not proved possible. In the longer term though, there is hope. Canterbury Museum holds many unidentified glass plate negatives and printed photographs, which they intend to scan and place on-line. Eventually. And since Adams was a photographer – and was Best Man at Curties' marriage – there's a good chance that pertinent and identifiable images will yet be discovered. Finally, sincere thanks to Alan Meredith, the late Keith Guthrie, and Clare Simpson of Christchurch for her assistance, input and manuscript suggestions which, I have to confess, were not altogether adhered to. Geoff Mentzer Hastings April 2020 5 PROLOGUE Frederick Nelson Adams was born in Christchurch in 1867, the first of eleven siblings – one of whom died young – to an English father and Scottish mother. All that remains of his education record is that he was awarded a prize in Class III at Christchurch East School in March 1877, and was enrolled at that same school in 1878. He's not found in enrolment lists of Christchurch Boy's High School, or Canterbury College – forerunner of Canterbury University. His father, Frederick Thomas, was a law clerk in England then journalist with the Lyttelton Times in Christchurch who turned the hobby of horticulture into full-time employment about 1875. That year Adams and Son – the Son being just seven – are first found as nurserymen, propagating flower seeds and bulbs. By the following year they were Adams and Sons, incorporating Henry Thomas, who was less than one year old. Frederick jnr left school at about age 13, presumably to work with his father and continue what was clearly a strong work ethic, a trait no doubt also passed on by his mother Annie, herself from industrious and prudent stock. Adams and Sons thrived and were soon selling their seeds nationwide. Frederick jnr's commitment to the profession was demonstrated in March 1886 when he returned from a collecting trip to the Wilberforce and Westland boundary with about 1000 plants. The nursery was to eventually plug itself as the "Establishment for New and Rare Plants," which included natives. Unsurprising that its specialty was New Zealand Alpine plants and shrubs, specimens of which they supplied to Kew Gardens in London. Later in 1886 Fred jnr showed his mechanical aptitude by applying for a patent for "'The Patent Magnet', an economic constant-action tubular boiler for heating horticultural & other buildings with hot water."1 But somewhere along the way, his mercantile bent branched away from horticulture. Walter William Curties was born in England in 1868 and the family emigrated to New Zealand in 1875 and eventually settled in Heathcote Valley, Christchurch. His father Thomas was, as with Frederick Adams snr, enterprising and multi-skilled, but more prone to wanderlust. By age 11 he was assistant to his carrier father but in late 1855, he enlisted with older brother Robert in the Royal Engineers at Chatham. Both served in Malta, where Robert died from cholera, while Thomas served there and in England for twelve years as a miner then sapper – an unusual occupation for someone born and raised near the coast in Norfolk. Next, Thomas trained as a stonemason in England. After which he worked there as a railway signalman and eventually the same in Heathcote Valley, where he also leased some acres of land, presumably for agricultural purposes. Later still he was a publican, and finally a shoemaker in his latter years. At school in the Valley Walter, known to family as Watty, was twice awarded prizes for coming second then first in class and in May 1879, had his first brush with the Law. He and another lad had broken into a local storekeeper's house and stolen some apples, a pork pie and pair of spectacles. His Worship lectured each of the boys and in discharging them, said it was only out of consideration for the parents that he did not order them to be severely flogged. Which they certainly would be, if brought up again on such a charge. Like Frederick, Walter's formal education also ceased at 13, when he left school for work. While his early employment details are unknown, it's likely he went directly into the bicycle trade. In 1885, W Curtis was entered in the Christchurch Bicycle Club's Easter races at Lancaster Park, and in November 1888, Walter Curtis was fined 5 shillings ($53 in 2019) for riding a bicycle on the footpath in Madras Street, Sydenham. 6 PART I CHAPTER I – PIONEERS Velocipede mania was sparked in Christchurch in 1869 by local coachbuilder, machinist and engineer Henry Wagstaff, who had a bicycle of his own manufacture available for public demonstration in June that year. According to the press, though, there were some design improvements "which may be effected as the manufacturer becomes more acquainted with the principle of the machine."1 Nonetheless, there was considerable amusement at attempts by amateurs to ride at the demonstration what was known as a High Wheeler, or Penny Farthing. By August, Wagstaff had another one made plus orders for several more, beyond which there were several more imported. In September, at festivities to open the rowing season on the Avon river, three of Wagstaff's creations on display attracted considerable attention. Later that month, there was call to create a Velocipede or Athletics club. Although this soon came into being – then collapsed in December due to lack of support – the annual Canterbury Anniversary Sports day on 16 December included the first recorded velocipede race in Christchurch. This was "looked upon as the great event of the day"2 and of the six machines participating, four were locally made. In July 1870, AJ White Furnishing Warehouse began regular advertising of bicycles for sale. In August, Neeves Ironmonger advised that they could convert their own imported tricycles into bicycles. And at the Anniversary Sports on December 17, Thomas Hyde, an employee of local coach maker Shanley, won the handicap velocipede race on a bicycle made by himself. Shanley, presumably his employer, came fourth on an imported bicycle. Hyde soon advertised his cycle for sale, while he himself years after, was said to have built the first bicycle to be made in New Zealand. More of which claim to follow. Interest in cycle racing waned from 1871 due, it was claimed, to bicycles being "little, if at all, used in the city now."3 Even when in some years bicycle races were proposed, they were subsequently cancelled due to too few or a total absence of entries. It was not until December 1879 that Anniversary bicycle races returned, to become a permanent fixture.