I discovered a bunch of great vintage bicycle photographs on the Toronto archives that I wanted to share for this week’s Toronto history post.
The photos are dated from 1907 – 1960s. It is interesting to note the locations where bicycling events took place as well as the different types of bikes. I also enjoyed the photos of the bicycle corps.
Cyclists, Centre Island. – 1908
Photo: Alfred J. Pearson – December 6, 1924 – Bay St, showing parking, on east side, Saturday, before noon, (from Temperance St, north)Bicycle corps, University Avenue. – 1913
Bicycle race at Velodrome, Scarborough Beach Park. – [ca. 1926]Bicycle race paced by motorcycles, CNE. – [ca. 1920]
Bicycle racing, Grandstand, CNE – between 1920 and 1940Bill and Joe James in a motorcyle with side car. – [1910?]Bill James Jr. and his first Canadian bicycle. – 1907
Boys cycling across Lakeshore Road bridge at Mimico. – [1907?]Cycle corps. – [ca. 1915]Cycle corps at physical exercises, Humber Valley. – [ca. 1915]Cycle corps. – [ca. 1915]Cycling beside Don River, between Don Mills Road and Leaside . – [ca. 1912]
Cycling in Rosedale Valley – between 1900 and 1920Cyclists lined up for race, CNE between 1920 and 1940Double high wheel bicycle. – 1934Dufferin Street, Eglinton to Wilson. – 1955Dunlop Trophy bicycle race, CNE grounds. – [1924?]Female cyclist wheeling bicycle up muddy hill on St. Clair Avenue West. – 1907Finish of bicycle race, CNE. – September 2, 1926. The winner of the one mile race was Bill Elder, right.Gold-plated racing bicycle presented to Peden, Canadian Sports Hall of FameHigh wheel bicycle, a.k.a. Penny-farthing. – 1930HMCS “Forest Hill” crew host WRENS stationed in Halifax from Forest Hill Village, and other parts of Toronto at a dinner on the ship : Coder James Cramer (1300 Lansdowne Ave.) shows WREN Ruth Arnsby (9 Montclair) one of the bicycles sent by the Village of Forest Hill to the ship 1940-45Mary J. Gilmore and Ordinary Seaman Robert Denyer try out one of the bicycles – HMCS “Forest Hill” crew host WRENS stationed in Halifax from Forest Hill Village, and other parts of Toronto at a dinner on the ship : Coder James Cramer (1300 Lansdowne Ave.) shows WREN Ruth Arnsby (9 Montclair) one of the bicycles sent by the Village of Forest Hill to the ship 1940-45 – old bicycle photosMt. Carmel Church, Reverend Stephen Anad blessing bicycle. – July 28, 1929
Norm James in Dunlop Trophy bicycle race. – [between 1925 and 1926]North Bathurst Street hill. – [ca. 1922]
Peterson Productions filming advertisement for BIA Oil at gas station – between 1950 and 1970Sis, Aunt Alice, Dora, and Frank (on bicycle) James. – 1907Soldier with family. – [1914?]. A note says that the location is the city limits of Hamilton, where soldiers on a trek were met by their families. (However, the soldier shown has a bicycle.)Some of the James family. – 1907. A note says this may be 39 Huron Street, but the house isn’t the same as in 3522.Start of bicycle race, CNE . – September 2, 1926. The winner of the one mile race was Bill Elder, third from left.
Start of first heat of schoolboys’ bicycle race, CNE Grandstand. – [ca. 1926]Trick cyclists at CNE Grandstand. – [ca. 1920]See more vintage photographs on the Toronto Archives website.
Cyclists, Centre Island. – 1908
![Bicycle race at Velodrome, Scarborough Beach Park. - [ca. 1926] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bicycle-race-at-Velodrome-Scarboro-Beach-Park.jpg)
![Bicycle race paced by motorcycles, CNE. - [ca. 1920] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bicycle-race-paced-by-motorcycles-CNE.jpg)
![Bill and Joe James in a motorcyle with side car. - [1910?] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bill-and-Joe-James-in-a-motorcyle-with-side-car.jpg)
![Boys cycling across Lakeshore Road bridge at Mimico. - [1907?] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Boys-cycling-across-Lakeshore-Road-bridge-at-Mimico.jpg)
![Cycle corps. - [ca. 1915] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Cycle-corps.jpg)
![Cycle corps at physical exercises, Humber Valley. - [ca. 1915] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Cycle-corps-at-physical-exercises-Humber-Valley.jpg)
![Cycle corps. - [ca. 1915] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Cycle-corps-copy.jpg)
![Cycling beside Don River, between Don Mills Road and Leaside . - [ca. 1912] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Cycling-beside-Don-River-between-Don-Mills-Road-and-Leaside.jpg)
![Dunlop Trophy bicycle race, CNE grounds. - [1924?] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Dunlop-Trophy-bicycle-race-CNE-grounds.jpg)
![Norm James in Dunlop Trophy bicycle race. - [between 1925 and 1926] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Norm-James-in-Dunlop-Trophy-bicycle-race.jpg)
![North Bathurst Street hill. - [ca. 1922] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/North-Bathurst-Street-hill.jpg)
![Soldier with family. - [1914?]. A note says that the location is the city limits of Hamilton, where soldiers on a trek were met by their families. (However, the soldier shown has a bicycle.) - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Soldier-with-family.jpg)
![Start of first heat of schoolboys' bicycle race, CNE Grandstand. - [ca. 1926] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Start-of-first-heat-of-schoolboys-bicycle-race-CNE-Grandstand.jpg)
![Trick cyclists at CNE Grandstand. - [ca. 1920] - Vintage Bicycle Photographs](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Trick-cyclists-at-CNE-Grandstand.jpg)
