Peregrine Cycles, The Leicester Cycle Co. Leicester – c1900

Peregrine Cycles poster, The Leicester Cycle Co. Leicester – c1900.

Peregrine was a trade name used by the Cycle manufacturing company, the Leicester Cycle Co. They began manufacturing bicycles in 1890. The peregrine range offered seven models, with the Peregrine No1 becoming extremely popular. The company sold the Peregrine Cycles across the UK and enjoyed a vibrant trade with Europe. In adverts the Company quoted their bicycles in not only UK Pounds, but German Marks and French Francs. The Peregrine No 1 bike was one of their most popular models and is featured in this vintage cycling poster.

The Graces Guide website wrote in their Guide to British Industrial Heritage “The ‘Racer’ model which weighed only 23lbs, fitted with ‘Dunlop’ pneumatic tyres, was a very popular machine with the racing fraternity and quickly became ‘the machine’ to buy, especially with Leicester having two UK major race tracks; Belgrave Road and Aylestone Road at which cycle race meetings had and were regularly held. At their height the Leicester Cycle Co, based on Friday Street, were producing over 500 bicycles per week. The company was eventually taken over by the Clyde Cycle and Motor Car Co of Clyde Street, Leicester in 1902, who although clearly advertised the name “Peregrine” failed to use the name for their bicycles, simply being named as ‘The Clyde’.

The takeover of the company in 1902 spelled the end for Peregrine cycles. However, in an online article written by Colin McCaleb for the BikeRumour website back in Feb 2012 there was some surprising news. It suggested that after more than 120 years the Peregrine would be back in production

The article explains ‘Most of us haven’t heard of Leicester Cycle Company. This is because they went out of business about a century ago. The Peregrine bike was one of their most popular models. Leicester Cycle Co. sold the Peregrine across the UK and mainland Europe. Cyclemagic, a non-profit organization that caters to special needs cyclists, discovered that they were occupying Leicester Cycle Co.’s original space in Leicester, UK. Now, in the spirit of history, they are resurrecting the Peregrine. No release date is listed, but they promise to provide one soon. Cyclemagic already produces a line of Penny-Farthings, but this bike requires a revamp of their facilities to meet increased demand’. Unfortunately, by August 2012 CycleMagic had sold  off it’s bicycle collection and closed down, so the Peregrine never made it back into production. 

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as a fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a bargain of print and frame for a great price.