C.L. Holmes Bicycle Shop Booklet- Race Records, Gearing Chart, Artwork & Fishing Tackle

[Jesse McCauley]

This small pamphlet has a lot going on. Likely a handout at a race or maybe just in-shop this may be the only surviving example.
At a little over 5" x 3" this booklet serves to advertise for the Holmes bike shop, inform the reader of the ca 1900 bicycle records from that year's (?) race season and educate the reader on how to properly calculate bicycle gearing. I need to take a lesson from this form of advertising.

The booklet depicts a fine tandem illustration on the cover by Walter M Dunk, a versatile illustrator of some national recognition, I will follow up with a few of his works to show his range. It seems a wonder how this little Connecticut shop owner thought to commission Mr. Dunk but who knows?

Showing a variety of noteworthy racers this is an important moment in bicycle race history with Major Taylor leading the field.

I so wish I could visit this shop even if just to see the combination of Orients, Tribunes, Stearns.....and fishing poles, fine handmade flys.... gosh it sounds like a dream doesn't it?

 

[Jesse McCauley]

Following up on Walter M. Dunk-
Philadelphia born in 1855, trained at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art -
He was a regular contributor to Harpers Weekly, published on small commissions such as this one obviously, and became well known as an illustrator for sheet music covers as well.