Produced from 1897
Product number 158
Hand lacquered
Mechanism: Clockwork
Height approx. 13 cm / 5,1 inches
Length approx. 27cm / 10,6 inch
The winding mechanism is placed between the rear wheel of the father and the front wheel of the mother.
This mechanism is with a fixed key
After winding, the whole family starts to ride including the movement of the legs of the father and the mother.
The movement of the mechanism is transferred by means of an axle to the front wheel of the woman’s bike and to the rear wheel of the father’s bike.
By means of a “chain” the legs are moved to suggest cycling.
The “chain” is a string
It is marked on one of the legs of the father with: FM Bt. S.G.D.G. MRe DÉPOSÉE. and that means : (Fernand Martin, Patent without government guarantees and brand name is registered )
FM = Fernand Martin
Bt > Breveté = patent
S.G.D.G. = This owas a common abbreviation for “Sans Garantie Du Gouvernement“ (without government guarantees).
MRe > marque =brand name
DÉPOSÉE. = registered
The transmission of the motion of the mother’s bicycle is accomplished by an axle through the mother’s rear wheel to the child’s front wheel.
The father figure was used more often in his toys at that time:
Old number 41, new number 121 -La bicyclette Martin 1892
156 Le monocycle aérien 1896
159 La pompe 1897
168 Le motocycle (has another hat)1898
And the still unknown toy the three-wheeled bicycle, see blog article: https://fernandmartintoys.nl/did-i-found-an-unknown-martin-toy-or-not/
The pictures of the toy courtesy E.T.