Summaries

T ransla T ion t iin A A lest A lo

Life with Watson

“I was 12 when dad and I went to shop for a bicycle for me. One SOK-branded bicycle remained in the store, an old-fashioned black bike that I wanted, and none of the new ones. “

Since that day in 1955 the man and the bike were inseparable, says Raija Laukkanen about her dad (20–23). The tours made in the first summers on his own bicycle opened a whole new view of the home district to young Jyrki Laukkanen. Since then only aviation has intrigued Jyrki to the same extent as the bicycle. His glyder flying hobby grew into a desire to become a pilot. The man and the black bike were such a familiar sight at the Kymi airport that friends started calling the bike Watson. A faithful servant it has been, too, a party in all stages of Laukkanen’s piloting career, as a student in Helsinki or a trainee at an airplane factory.

Laukkanen made a long career as a test pilot at the air forces in 1971 – 2002. Now retired, he keeps himself busy writing aviation-related non-fiction, doing sports and naturally flying as well as taking care of the aircraft of the Karhula aviation club, as well as his bicycle. “Though this is a good bike, it needs constant maintenance. I do a complete service to it yearly in which I take the whole bike to pieces. I open the hubs, take of the bearings and clean surfaces, and replace worn bearings if need be. The meter shows I pedal 3000 kilometers per year. “

To add up, Laukkanen takes care of a Gloster Gauntlet, the only airworthy two-plane World War II fighter in existence. Laukkanen is its sole pilot and flies it in aviation shows in Southern Finland every summer. He sometimes looks for spare parts to Gauntlet in museums all over the world. In comparison, bicycle parts are easy to find even if they are no longer manufactured.

In a addition to the yearly maintenance and painting, Laukkanen checks and cleans his vehicle on a monthly basis. In due course, the bike will be in shape even for the Aviation Museum. Not surprisingly, in the US Air Force Museum there is a bicycle made by the Wright brothers, both of whom were originally bicycle mechanics. Laukkanen might sell Watson to a museum for a million, but not elsewhere. Almost his whole life they have been together.

Cycling in Hämeenlinna

Mikko Kylliäinen’s “From Wellenius to Vaakuna – cyclists, bicycle brands and bike dealers in Hämeenlinna from 1886 to 1973” will delight those with a keen interest in old bicycles and history (p 11–12). A publication by Vanhat Velot, the book comes out it December. The army open-mindedly started using the new vehicle at the end of the 19th century. Kylliäinen’s description of a field expedition of the Hämeenlinna battalion gives an impression of a joyous excursion with dancing and lemonade service rather than of a serious exercise.

World events, especially wars, are followed throughout the history. Wartime made the procurement of bicycles harder, which inspired many to manufacture bicycles in their own workshops. There was shortage of metals, too, during the war and long after. As a recreation and a form of exercise, cycling was mainly associated with boys of the genteel. Hämeenlinna’s first bicycle smith seems to have been a top professional of his time. He educated himself visiting international fairs, etc., and his skills as a wheel-builder contributed to self-supporting bicycle manufacturing. Krogius, who imported Singer bicycles, and the Machine and bicycle company G. A. Karlsson are mentioned as the most notable bicycle dealers. Those interested in bicycle brands can find information on 20 brands manufactured in Hämeenlinna such as Aulanko, Cresto, Record, and Maaseutu.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries bicycle registration was required. Searching the registers, Kylliäinen has analyzed information about bicycle owners and their professions as well as the development in the number of bicycles within a 30year time span. The book includes rare pictures of cyclists, buildings, people, and documentaries, as well as studio pictures of cyclists with their bicycles.

A second generation bicycle dealer

Heikki Nikkilä from Kyröskoski is a second generation bicycle dealer in Pirkanmaa. Heikki has stood behind the counter starting from 1966, explains Esa Aallas in his article (p 24–27). “When I finished army at the age of 19, I inherited an 18-inch wrench from my sick dad, Jaakko. My dad used it in the workshop started already in 1928,” says Heikki, born 1947. The workshop has kept its customers on their bicycle seats for 85 years altogether.

“In the 30’s dad started manufacturing both standard and premium men’s and women’s models branded as Kyrö. Many commuted to the paper mill on a Kyrö.” During the war and right after, there was high demand for bicycles, but parts shortage constrained manufacture. The worst shortage was on wheels. Because of the shortage on supplies, a bicycle repairman had to know how to weld, turn, polish, and paint. “In those scanty times, dad also bartered with Kyrö bikes. They were occasionally exchanged to pork and potatoes.”

In the workshop side of the bike dealer’s one could spot many types of work machines such as an upright drill, a revolver lathe, or a large oven where Heikki’s dad sometimes dried roll-ups instead of stove-enamelling bicycles.

In the 50’s, new brands were included in the selection, such as Tunturi. The 60’s brought motor bikes, which sold well. Like many other bicycle dealers, the shop has expanded into other sports and recreation equipment. In contrast, the workshop side has faded.

Also knives, blades and sheaths prepared by Heikki as a hobby are presented and sold in a showcase. Thanks to the efforts of an enterprising couple, Kyrön Pyörä bicycle shop has held on already 85 years.