People - Nahum Salamon

Nahum Salamon (or Salomon) (1828-1900), Inventor, first manufacturer of bicycles, and the man who introduced the sewing machine to England. He also helped to develop the saccharin industry. 

Born in Nottingham, and a chemist by training, Nahum pioneered the British trade in sewing-machines. He introduced from America into England the "Howe," the pioneer sewing machine.

Nahum was then the first to establish a plant for the manufacture of bicycles - or velocipedes as they were then known - at Coventry, at the time of the development of the modern bicycle and tricycle. He was chairman of the Coventry Machinists Company, which pioneered the mass manufacture of bicycles in the city, which became the world centre for the production of bikes. 

By 1873 the Coventry Machinists Company focussed solely on its bicycle production. Nahum retired from the company in 1886.

Nahum Salomon wrote the first book on the modern bicycle 'Bicycling: Its Rise and Development, a textbook for riders'. He was also a prolific chronicler of the development of bicycle racing producing the earliest published history of the sport.

The Matchless Penny Farthing bicycle was made between 1881 and 1886 by George Singer, of Coventry, for Nahum Salomon of the Bicycle & Tricycle Supply Co, High Holborn, London. It was said to have been one of the finest high wheel bicycles of the day, with a rubber suspension system patented by Nahum Salomon. It is said no bicycle suspension methods could match the Matchless until the 1960s, when Dr Alex Moulton designed and made the Moulton bicycle.

Nahum's contributions to the development of the bicycle are recognised by H. Hewitt Griffin in the 1890 book 'Cycles and Cycling' as follows:  'Some of the most essential improvements in the bicycle were invented by N. Salamon, formerly chairman of the 'Coventry Machinist Co., who did an immensity to aid and develop the bicycle in its early days, in the Club and Matchless'.

Nahum Salamon retired to Hampstead where he lived with his wife Amelia. He died in 1900 and is buried in Hackney.

Read and see more in these documents & media: - Illustrations from Nahum Salomon's 'Bicycling: Its Rise and Development'

See these Links for further information:  (Note: These are external links for which we have no responsibility for the content)

• The Origins of Bicycle Racing in England by Andrew Ritchie

• Patrick Comerford Article on Coventry Jewish History including Nahum Salamon