Museum of Science and Industry

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of Sibbit’s victory the Museum will be offering a two for the price of one offer on Gunther von Hagen's BODY WORLDS 4 exhibition for all cyclists who come to the Museum by bicycle between 16-20 June. There will also be a special Bike Day at MOSI on 20 June, including free cycle maintenance advice, and cycle maps for Greater Manchester.

The tandem which Sibbit made in 1928 will be on display in the Museum’s Air and Space Hall, along with other significant historic bicycles, including a 1938 Sibbit touring bike, an 1869 Salford-made Boneshaker, an 1885 Manchester-made Harrison High Ordinary (Penny Farthing) and other bikes from the estate of the late local cycle enthusiast Ron Sant.

Nick Forder, transport curator at MOSI said:

“Jack Sibbit was one of Manchester’s greats who may well have won a Gold Medal in 1932 but could not afford to close his shop for six weeks to attend the Olympics in Los Angeles. Who better to remember during Bike Week as the Olympics draw near? We hope visitors will be inspired by Jack’s story and take this opportunity to cycle to the Museum during Bike Week. Manchester has a fantastic history of specialist bicycle manufacture so I will be looking at visiting bicycles very carefully in the hope of adding another gem to the MOSI collections.”

John (Jack) Ephraim Sibbit was born on 3 April 1895, the third of seven children of an Ancoats butcher. He was involved in competition cycling for 17 years, 12 of which were spent as a top-ranking rider. In 1924 he won his first National Championship, the Tandem Sprint, with Albert White, and in 1928 he went on to be captain of the British Tandem Team at the Olympics in Amsterdam, gaining a Silver Medal in the 2000m Tandem Sprint. He retired from competitive cycling in cycling in 1938, but maintained his links with cycling through focussing on his small cycle manufacture business and as a prominent member of the Manchester Wheelers. Jack Sibbit died on 5 August 1950, aged 55.

The Museum has a collection of 15 bicycles and one tricycle:

·        1869 Boneshaker, made by Andrew Muir, Victoria Bridge Works, Salford

·        1885 High Ordinary (Penny Farthing), made by William Harrison, 128 Portland Street, Manchester

·        c1896 ‘Lu-Min-Um’ bicycle, made in France and retailed by Lu-min-um Manufacturing Company Limited, 2 Victoria Buildings, St Mary’s Gate, Manchester

·        1914 ‘Thrasher’ Touring bicycle, made by Rylands & Sons Ltd, Manchester

·        1915 CWS retailed bicycle

·        1928 Tandem bicycle, made by Jack Sibbit, 177 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester

·        1934 Competition Track bicycle, made by Berry & Bentley, 4/5/6 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, Manchester

·        1935 Touring bicycle frame & components, Berry & Bentley, 4/5/6 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, Manchester (awaiting restoration)

·        c1935 ‘Glider’ Tandem bicycle, Stenton, Ardwick, Manchester (sold via Fairfield Street, possibly made at 8 Slade Lane) (awaiting restoration)

·        c1935 Touring bicycle, made by Jack Sibbit, 177 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester (awaiting restoration)

·        1938 Touring bicycle, made by Jack Sibbit, 177 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester

·        c1965 Child’s bicycle, made by Tri-ang

·        1973 Touring bicycle, made by Johnny Berry, Manchester

·        1983 Touring bicycle, made by Frank Herety, 180 Higher Hillgate, Stockport

·        1994 Town hybrid bicycle, made by Malc Cowle/ Bicycle Doctor, Withington

·        1998 Windcheetah recumbant tricyle, made by Seat-of-the-Pants, Sale

Bike Week runs from 14-22 June 2008. For more information on Bike Week, please visit www.bikeweek.org.uk 

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