Daimler Empress 1955

Coventry Transport Museum

Garage Door

Cook Street

The License Plate - MBRT 1

I believe the initials relate to the museum by its former name,

Museum of British Road Transport.

Admission to the Coventry Transport Museum

is free and well worth a visit.

Participating in Monday Mural

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Bicycle

Coventry Transport Museum

1879 Lawson Bicyclette made in Sussex (front)

and

1885 Rudge Penny Farthing made in Rudge Factory, Crow Lane, Coventry (back)

Coventry is the birthplace of the British Cycle and Motor industry.

In 1888 Rover Safety Bicycle (below)

was made by John Kemp Starley's Rover Company in Coventry.

This bicycle is considered to be the first modern bicycle

and is one of the most important inventions of the past 200 years.

As you can see, Coventry Transport Museum 

has a comprehensive collection of bicycles.

The museum is free and you can spend as much time as 

you like looking at the bicycles as well as

everything you ever wanted to know about 

Coventry's rich motor industry.

I couldn't leave out these bright

red wheels on the velocipede (below)
known in Britain as the
'Boneshaker' because it was so uncomfortable to ride.

I've visited the museum many times and used one of their 

displays in CDP's 'Revolution' Theme Day back in May.

For more bicycle photographs from members of 

City Daily Photo, please follow the link - HERE.

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Revolution

Revolution - The Wheel

City Daily Photo Theme Day for this month is 'Revolution'.  

Since Coventry (England) is the birthplace of the

British cycle and motor industry,
the wheel seems a good choice for my theme day photo.

Cycles were first built in Coventry in 1868
 at The Coventry Machinist Company (a sewing machine company). 

The British motor industry was born in Coventry in 1897.

Photographs were taken at the Coventry Transport Museum 

where you can also see the 'first ever bicycle' made in Germany (below), and

the largest British collection of motor cars, commercial vehicles, cycles and motorcycles -

and it is free!

Please click the link HERE for more contributions from 

around the world to CDP Theme Day - Revolution.

PS.  The car behind the cycles in the first photo is a 1974 'E' Type Jaguar.  

The Glass Bridge

Lady Herbert's Garden, Coventry

Here is quiet spot in the City Centre.  Those are almshouses

in the background.  The Glass Bridge is curious, but I love to walk on it.

 Built in 2003 as part of the Phoenix Initiative to regenerate parts of the City Centre.

I am going to show you the view immediately to my left so you

can see the reality of what lies close by.  

Coventry Transport Museum.  An absolute 'must see' if you visit

Coventry.  Afterwards, go for a 15 minute walk in Lady Herbert's Garden.

All taken today in the sunshine :).

Q is for 'The QUEEN Visits Coventry'

The Caption Reads:
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF
EDINBURGH on their Silver Jubilee visit to Coventry
in 1977.

This photograph was on display at the Coventry Transport Museum in April this year as part of  The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration exhibition.

I was living in Coventry in 1977.  I saw The Queen not many minutes after this photograph was taken and I can remember that day as if it were yesterday.  What a moment.

For more stories and photographs from around the world please visit ABC WEDNESDAY.

(Photograph of The Queen was taken in Broadgate, Coventry.)

That Would Be Sir Frank Whittle....

...beneath the Whittle Arches depicted as 'watching the first test flight of a jet-propelled Gloster-Whittle E28/39 on 15th May 1941 at  RAF Cranwell'. 

Sun is out (hooray) and so is everyone else.  I will be back here again with my camera, but in the meantime, remember to 'Beware of Buses'....they pass by here like a Gloster-Whittle E28/39 jet aircraft.  Sir Frank Whittle is the inventor of the jet engine.

Coventry Transport Museum - Valentine's Day gift? (I wish!)

from Coventry Transport Museum - Wheels & Wave Exhibition

Coventry has an outstanding automotive museum (and it is free).  I will mention it often and encourage you to have a look at the link HERE.  Tomorrow:  A little about things to see just outside the museum.....Happy Valentine's Day!