Built between 1860 and 1870, this bicycle was made by Michaux et Cie. (Michaux and Company) and features pedals on the front wheel, a major step in bicycle development. Michaux et Cie. was one of the earliest manufacturers of bicycles. Beginning in the 1860s, Pierre Michaux (1813 – 1883) and his son, Ernest Michaux (1842 – 1882), along with Pierre Lallement (1843 – 1891) began experimenting with wheeled vehicles propelled by human power. The team successfully made a two wheeled vehicle propelled by pedal-cranks attached to the front wheel, they are credited with creating the first front wheeled pedal bicycle. The team’s design was groundbreaking by no longer requiring a rider’s feet to touch the ground, but rather using pedal-cranks to propel the bicycle forward. In 1886, Pierre and Ernest Michaux formed Michaux et Cie. and opened a factory in France where they began producing front wheeled pedal bicycles.

This Michaux et Cie. bicycle is reflective of the bicycles made during the mid-nineteenth century which consisted of two-spoked wooden wheels with metal rims, a saddle on a steel or wooden frame, pedals on the axle of the front wheel, and handlebars for steering. During this period, bicycles were also referred to as “boneshakers” because of their shaky rides over rough terrain.