W.W.I Era Motorcycle Magazine Archive with Extensive Photographs

[Early Motorcycle Culture] [WWI] Archive of 5 turn of the century motorcycle magazines for traders and enthusiasts from the years 1914-1918. This archive includes three issues of "The Motor Cycle & Cycle Trader" July 10, 1914, April 2, 1915, December 30, 1915, and two issues of "The Motor Cycle" January 13, 1916, and October 17, 1918. Each magazine measures 8.5" x 11". With the invention of the first internal combustion engine in the 1880s, the motorcycle saw a rapidly increasing demand as a new means of travel with the first major mass produced motorcycles emerging in the early 1900s for leisure and sport. However, with the bourgeoning first world war, the first motorcycle was used in 1916 to replace cavalry units. Over 30,000 motorcycles were made during the war as infantry units deployed machine gun crews, medical transportation, and as a means for rapid message delivery. Each magazine is filled with illustrations, photographs, advertisements for new and upcoming models for both leisure and combat use, clothing and accessories, anecdotal stories and poems from collectors and enthusiasts, classified ads, and news regarding their role and use in the then modern age. One article from 1918 discusses the function of the standardized Liberty Harley Davidson in the military. Another from 1915 highlights the Dutch Motor Club's racing competition, two panoramic photographs of the large group of contestants atop their motorcycles and sidecars bring this event to life. One anecdote is from the perspective of a female motorist and her fondness of the nomadic freedom of traveling by motorcycle around the UK countryside. One notable two page spread shows a squad photo of the 24th M.M.G Battery unit accompanied by smaller images of despatch riders of the French, Canadian, and Russian Allies on their motorcycles. Other interesting photographs include an American made motorcycle being rode by a soldier in France, two motorcyclist red cross workers, factory workers at an engine assembling shop with diagrams of the factory, a military motor cycle repair shop, and a sportsman with his wife and newborn baby riding in an attached sidecar. This archive showcases how this industrial age invention found it's way into every working class citizen's life amidst the first world war. Some detached binding, wear to edges, and light tanning. Considering this collection is over 100 years old, it is in overall very good condition.