Trade bicycles date to 1930s

#MiddleburyCT #TradeBicycle #WarMemorabilia #GroceryDelivery

Online grocery shopping and same-day delivery have exploded since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Of course, delivery services are nothing new. Home grocery delivery dates to the 1890s and was common in the early 20th century. It began to decline after World War II with the rise of suburbs and supermarkets, at least in the United States. The change wasn’t quite as drastic in Europe.

Home grocery delivery predates online ordering and smartphone apps. Midcentury delivery bicycles like this one prove it. (Kovels.com)

The pictured bicycle advertising Collins Chemist, which sold for 1,020 pounds (about $1,200 in U.S. currency) at a Bonhams auction, is one of the “trade” or “carrier” bicycles used in midcentury England. It was made by Leonard Grundle, who started making motorbikes in Birmingham in the 1920s and expanded into bicycles in the 1930s. In 1975, after Grundle’s death, the company was sold to Pashley Cycles, which is still operating in England today.

Q: My mother-in-law saved everything and some things have come down to us that we have no idea what to do with. We are retired and downsizing but want to treat my father-in-law’s memorabilia with respect. We have his uniform with insignia, medal, correspondence between them when he was in the war, his training manuals to become a pilot, emergency maps, gas mask, etc. in the event he was shot down, crew and plane photos, a detailed scrapbook, subsequent reunion materials with his bomber group. What should I do with all of this?

A: There are many collectors of World War II memorabilia. If you are interested in selling your collection, there are auctions and dealers that specialize in military and historical items. World War II memorabilia sells well at general auctions, too. If you have any weapons, guns, knives, live ammunition, or anything that might explode, check with local police for laws about safe handling and selling. You may want to consider donating your treasures to a museum; especially personal items like the photographs and scrapbook. A local museum or historical society in your father-in-law’s hometown may be interested in them. There are museums dedicated entirely to World War II, like the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and the World War II American Experience Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Some accept donations for their collections and archives. An association for World War II veterans and their families may have further advice.

TIP: Don’t leave anything inside old books – especially pressed flowers, paper clips, newspapers or sticky notes. They will cause stains, crease pages and do other damage.

Current Prices
Depression glass, Fire-King, salt and pepper, milk glass, black polka dots, metal top, 4 1/2 inches, $110.
Sampler, needlework, plants, flowering tree, hearts, medallions, multicolor flowering vine border, silk, frame, Catharina Schwartz, 1832, 19 x 19 1/2 inches, $500.
Decoy, brant, carved, painted, glass eyes, carved beak, neck seam, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, c. 1900, 20 inches, $1,640.

For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.