Photo: The image is currently located at The History of Humber on Costers - The History of Humber The original owner of the copyright is unknown as the image is 120 years old., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons¹¹

Thomas Humber

British engineer (1841–1910)

Thomas Humber (16 October 1841 – 24 November 1910) was an English engineer and cycle manufacturer who developed and patented a safety bicycle (1884) with a diamond-shaped frame and wheels of similar size. It became a pattern for subsequent machines.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Thomas Humber (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Oct 16, 1841, died Nov 24, 1910.¹

About

Humber made many other improvements to bicycles. About 1868 he founded Humber Cycles, the bicycle manufacturing business at Beeston, Nottinghamshire later owned by Humber & Co Limited.

Humber improved cycle technology through the independence of his thinking and his practical ability. The reliability of his products arose from his high standards and emphasis on quality. It all led to Humber becoming regarded as the aristocrat among bicycles.

From Wikipedia’s article on Thomas Humber, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.²

Companies

Humber LimitedFounder⁹
Humber MotorcyclesFounder¹⁰

Early life and education

Thomas Humber was born on Andrew Street, Brightside, Sheffield on 16 October 1841 the son of Samuel Humber, a tailor, and his wife Lucy (née Turton). His parents moved to Kingston upon Hull when he was 5 years old and he attended the Salthouse Lane school. On leaving school he worked for a blacksmith William Campion. In 1854 the family moved again this time to Nottingham. About 1860 he went over to Alfreton Derbyshire and The Butterley Company where he impressed his employers by devising a more efficient method of building deck beams for the Royal Navy's ships. But he soon returned to Nottingham and set himself up there as a blacksmith and there, in 1863, he married Emma Elizabeth Freeman (c. 1842–1903). They were to have a daughter and a son.

From Wikipedia’s article on Thomas Humber (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: entrepreneur, engineer.⁵

Date not recordedFounded Humber Motorcycles³
Date not recordedFounded Humber Limited⁴

Personal life

BornOct 16, 1841, Sheffield⁶
DiedNov 24, 1910, Teddington⁷
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland⁸

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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WikidataThomas Humber on Wikidata
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WikipediaThomas Humber on Wikipedia
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WikidataThomas Humber: Founded Humber Motorcycles, on Wikidata
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WikidataThomas Humber: Founded Humber Limited, on Wikidata
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WikidataThomas Humber: occupation, on Wikidata
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WikidataThomas Humber: place of birth, on Wikidata
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WikidataThomas Humber: place of death, on Wikidata
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WikidataThomas Humber: citizenship, on Wikidata
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WikidataHumber Limited, Founder
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WikidataHumber Motorcycles, Founder
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Wikimedia CommonsThomas Humber photo by The image is currently located at The History of Humber on Costers - The History of Humber The original owner of the copyright is unknown as the image is 120 years old., Public domain