Mobile toy in the form of a bicycle with two wheels and a large container in front. Made of wire with strips of black rubber round the wheels; the container and mudguard are made from pieces of aluminium cans. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 8/3/2005]

Collection type: Object
Description: Mobile toy in the form of a bicycle with two wheels and a large container in front. Made of wire with strips of black rubber round the wheels; the container and mudguard are made from pieces of aluminium cans. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 8/3/2005]
Geographical reference: South Africa
Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa
Person: Field collector Unknown Collector; PRM source Ukwenza
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1993
Date collected: By 1993
Acquisition information: Purchased: 04/1993
Materials and processes: Material Metal Wire, Material Aluminium Metal, Material Rubber Plant, Process Recycled, Process Wound, Process Bent
Dimensions: Height: max 45 mm, Width: max 95 mm, Length: max 120 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1993.15.5
Research and responses: According to Robert Nyamushosho (Lecturer of Archaeology at the University of Cape Town), these toys, usually constructed using a wire frame as a base, are generally sold at markets by craftspeople but are also made by children. Robert recalls making a wire car as a child in primary school, inspired by the large vehicles he would see and by the older boys in his neighbourhood. These toys could be left uncovered as a wire frame, or could be covered and have wheels attached. Robert remembers him and others making such toys using recycled materials such as tin foil, shell oil cans and baked beans cans and using metal containers for shoe polish as wheels for toy cars [MC 2022].
These bicycles are marketed by 'Ukwenza' for the charity Operation Hunger, which operates throughout southern Africa.

Search terms: Toy and Game, Transport and Travel, Model, Toy, Wheeled Vehicle