Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
Washington, D.C., circa 1918. "Woman on motorized bicycle." What won't they think of next! Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
...for a plate camera. She's obviously moving or accelerating quite quickly (see the upward curve in the lower side of the drive chain). Wonder what sort of shutter time was needed?
Today she would have a dozen tatoos and be wearing skin tight blue jeans.
That "bicycle" is actually a lightweight and popular Cleveland motorcycle. It had a two stroke engine and was a good motorcycle. I would love to have one today.
Took me a while to figure out which District of Columbia equestrian statue is shown in the background. It's clearly not the prancing horse of Nate Green. Nor the steed of George Henry Thomas, John Logan, George Washington or Phillip Sheridan. Lacking a clear view of the rider, the details of the pedestal were key. The statue is the General William Tecumseh Sherman Monument. The photo is taken looking east from East Executive Ave. None of the buildings in the background remain.
Even under such demanding circumstances, m’lady demonstrates real elegance and poise. She’s lovely!
The motorcycle reminds me of our neighbors Whizzer back in the early 50s.
Did I say the driver is lovely?
when that dress gets caught in that chain!
I wonder if more people would wear them if they still looked like that.
part of the Motorcycle.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5