Appeal for return of Penny Farthing

A local resident has appealed for the return of his Penny Farthing last seen being pushed down Streatham High Road. Robert Torto had his beloved Trott & Sons Penny-Farthing stolen on Streatham Hill.

“There will be lots of CCTV footage capturing my stolen Penny Farthing. I have reached out to local shops in Streatham for help in gathering evidence. It’s very distinctive given it has a 56 inch wheel."

"I have really enjoyed riding this mechanical marvel around and the best bit was all the smiles from Londoners as I rode by.”

Last year there were over 20,000 bikes stolen in London with around 427 being reported stolen in Lambeth alone.

A slightly smaller 52" Penny Farthing - Trott & Sons - Black is currently listed on ebay for around £1750.

The original Penny Farthing was popular in the 1880's due to their comfort and speed. They became obsolete in the 1890's due to the introduction of "modern" bicycles that introduced mechanical gears and pneumatic tyres. However they remain popular with bike enthusiasts with the largest manufacturer of replica's in the UK, UDC Penny Farthings, recorded record sales in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Robert is hoping that his Penny Farthing will be found soon so he can participate in the Guinness World Record attempt for the ‘greatest gathering of Penny-Farthing riders since the 1880s’ this October at Herne Hill Olympic Velodrome.