Thomas Ralph on a Keating Safety Bicycle, 1892

THF207840 / Thomas Ralph on a Keating Safety Bicycle, 1892
01

Artifact Overview

One way bicycle companies advertised was by distributing cabinet cards with images of their product. The Keating Wheel Company paired racer Thomas Ralph with one of its bicycles. With this promotional item, fans of Ralph got a photo of the cyclist, while company officials attracted other potential speedsters to take a look at their product before buying another bicycle.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Cabinet photograph

Subject Date

1892

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

86.18.53.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Cardboard

Technique

Gelatin silver process
Mounting

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 6.438 in
Width: 4.438 in

Inscriptions

Printed in front, above the image: THE KEATING Printed in front, below the image: A FAST PAIR / AND / THOS. RALPH / THE KEATING. Printed on back: "KEATING SAFETIES, 1892 -- Model B, weight 32 lbs. -- Model C, weight 29 lbs. -- Ladies' Safety, weight 33 lbs. -- PNEUMATIC AND CUSHION TIRES -- The Keating Wheel Co. build the lightest grade wheel in America. -- Do not place orders before seeing -- the Keating."