Bike Keeps Family in Stitches (Oct, 1939)
Filed under: Bicycles, Just Weird — @ 1:12 am
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Oct, 1939
| Buy on Ebay
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Oct, 1939
| Buy on Ebay
Bike Keeps Family in Stitches
CARRYING four persons and a sewing machine, the world’s weirdest bicycle recently had a tryout in Chicago, Ill. The two-story vehicle, known as the “Goofybike,” is the creation of Charles Steinlauf. It carries the whole Steinlauf family. The inventor rides at the top and guides the contraption by means of a huge automobile steering wheel. Mrs. Steinlauf sits below, operating a sewing machine, while her son pedals behind and her daughter rides on the handlebars in front. When the odd vehicle is at rest, the projecting legs of the sewing machine prevent the lofty cycle from tipping over.
It should read, Bike PUTS family in stiches
Comment by Al Bear — July 10, 2008 @ 7:28 am
Stitches, casts, Ace bandages…
Comment by Blurgle — July 10, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
it looks like a reenactment of the aristocrats!
Comment by CATHLEEN — July 10, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
I’m most impressed that the wheels and tires can hold that up.
Comment by Torgo — July 10, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
In stitches, bandages and casts.
Comment by Jaber — July 11, 2008 @ 5:56 am
Ooh! Cirque du Soleil!
Comment by Rick Auricchio — July 11, 2008 @ 11:33 am
The center of gravity looks way off. Wouldn’t mom’s weight pull the bike to its left?
The Steinlauf’s were known for their eccentric bicycle creations:
http://www.chicagofreakbike.or.....y-were.php
Comment by StanFlouride — July 12, 2008 @ 6:00 am
It looks like the boy could use some more time on the bike.
What was with these all these “wacky” stories in the 1930s? Sure, times were tough and people were looking for diversions but heaps of them were just pointless and stupid like this. What’s the significance of mum doing sewing?
Poland was being crushed under the Nazi jackboot while this issue was being prepared and we get the zany Steinlaufs?
Comment by Joey O'Neill — July 13, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
Joey O’Neill: Gotta fill the pages somehow.
Comment by Charlie — July 14, 2008 @ 8:39 am
@StanFlouride — the sewing machine with the cast iron tredle-power and table probably weighs about the same as she does.
Comment by Hapto — July 16, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
Now that’s what I call a sweatshop! Eat your eat out >insert pretty much any sports shoe manufacturer here<!
Comment by Elliot Bedwin — July 18, 2008 @ 7:12 am
You can see it at 4:30 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdlpJqHxLxk
Comment by sweavo — August 6, 2008 @ 1:36 am
it expalins where my wife buys these socks from
Comment by phil — August 14, 2008 @ 8:31 am
Photoshopped – the pixels are all wrong
Comment by Boob Biter — September 15, 2008 @ 1:21 am
in that case, BB, hats off to the person who also photoshopped the youtube vid.
maybe they just got a job lot of pixels for cheap and decided to use them up.
Comment by sweavo — September 15, 2008 @ 2:23 am
14: You are a Genius! You’re the first person to realize that I actually created all 4,852 posts in Photoshop.
Comment by Charlie — September 15, 2008 @ 9:09 am
LOL…kinda like a sweat shop using family members.
Comment by Custom Cycling Socks — October 28, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
Are their Steinlauf descendants in Chicago still and are they still making freakbikes?
Comment by BAW — October 30, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
weird, weird, weird….
Comment by phylis stitches — November 10, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
I actually saw a youtube video of this family a year ago. I wish I could find it again, it was really cool…
=)
Comment by Morgan — September 30, 2009 @ 12:40 am
see comment 12 is that it?
Comment by sweavo — September 30, 2009 @ 2:45 am