Dan Rudge.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 781, 27 March 1905, Page 2

Dan Rudge.

All who enter Coventry know the lamiliar lace of -Temping 'Pom," mid recall Tennyson's poem of "(Jodiva." Ami since the ■day of Uodiva's notile deed the cycle of time ami itivcntioi has rushed forward, spinning "'down the ringing grooves of change/' "Peeping Tom," leaning from hi.s window, still peeps perpetually down upon the street below, and he may well open a wide eytfof astonishment to see all the world flying past on wheels.

Another historical name that is linked with the name of Coventry for all time is that of Dan Iludgc. of Wolvirhiuupton, the fore-runner, or rather the fore-rider, of flic P.udg Whitworth machines, in the sixties. ilo made his own muchine, rode, his own nmchine.raced his own machine, ind beat everybody's, until other ra.eis, buying this machine,also became winners. But there is more to come. In 1878. v.e are told, Han Itudgc patented Unit Hearings. What, a large debt of gratitude the cycling world owes to the rore-rrniner of the Kudge-Whitworth Co. : what a' great relief it must have been to riders.

This remarkable personality died—in the height of his prosperity—in the year 1880, and his extensive business was sold, and in the following year the new firm took the name of J>. Iludge & Co. The company went rapidly forward becoming, just as the Safety was coming out in 1887, the Rudge Cycle Co., Ltd. Still progressing the firm continued its successful advance till in 1891 the 'familiar sign of the open hand appeared, and in 1891 the present well-known signature of the company appeared—Rudgc-Whitworth Ltd.

Such is the history of the largest cycle manufacturing company in England. That storting as Dan Kuilge in the sixties is in 190") known as mjDGE-WIUTWOKTII LTD.