The Wheelmen, Swarthmore, P.A.
Date1979
MediumChromogenic print on Kodak Ektacolor 74 RC-N paper
DimensionsImage: 10 7/16 × 10 7/16 inches (26.5 × 26.5 cm)
Sheet: 13 15/16 × 10 15/16 inches (35.4 × 27.8 cm)
Matted: 20 × 16 inches (50.8 × 40.6 cm)
Portfolio/Series"Groups in America" portfolio
Credit LineGift of The Estrin Family.
Object number2011.19.1.11
Copyright© Neal Slavin.
The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextThe Wheelman
600 family memberships
Commander: Edwin Gerling
Vice-Commander: Robert Menker
Treasurer: Samuel Haney
Secretary: Charles Sanford
The group meets in many different states at antique bike tours, parades, and meets.
The object of the group is to encourage saving, restoring, riding, and displaying antique bicycles; to renew America’s pride in its bicycling history; and to encourage the return of cycling to American life.
Wheelman membership is open to anyone- whether or not an antique bicycle owner. All privileges are granted to all members, but members must have ridden a ten-mile tour in order to vote.
General activities include publication of a quarterly magazine, tours through rural countryside, antique car shows, college homecomings, and special holiday observances, obstacle course runs, tandem tourneys, and other contests. Ladies may join their gents in riding the highwheelers and showing off the 1890’s fashions. There are ladies’ races and costume judging. The organization also holds an annual race of highwheelers on the Indianapolis Speedway.
Wheelman revenue is derived from parade fees, dues, sustaining memberships, and public sale of its magazine.
The group was begun in 1967 as a national, non-profit, incorporated organization. It includes, in addition to the above listed officers, a board with a historian, editor, and associate editor, photographer, League of American Wheelman representative, and captains of each state chapter.
Special awards include first prizes in the Philadelphia Mummers parade and the Washington Cherry Blossom parade. In addition, Ed Berry, Jr., a fellow Wheelman, rode his Columbia highwheeler from San Francisco to Boston during the summer of 1971 to attract attention to the bicycle movement.
From When Two or More Are Gathered Together (1976) by Neal Slavin.
