By the early years of the 20th century motorcycle had evolved from novelties to reasonably practicable vehicles. And as pioneer riders began to rely on their bikes for day-to-day transport they needed what you and I need today: specialised clothing to insulate us from the elements and specialised equipment to make out bikes more efficient. So more than a century ago riders could buy warm, waterproof clothing, luggage equipment, handlebar muffs and much more.

In those pre-blacktop times ‘sideslip’ – skidding – was an ever-present peril. Thank goodness for Barsby’s Patent Safety Footboards! Motor Cycling was in no doubt of their efficacy…
Several correspondents recently have mentioned the desirability of having means to enable the rider to keep the machine upright without the necessity of putting one’s feet in the mud. Barsby’s device achieves this, and considerably more, as, if combined with a clutch, it enables a motorcycle to be driven anywhere and under any condition of road or weather, exactly like a motorcar.
It is so arranged that when the right footboard is depressed, the clutch is withdrawn, and the machine can remain stationery with the engine still running. By a particular adjustment of the clutch lever, it can be left so that when the footboard  is down, the clutch is not quite free, but is acting as a slight brake on the engine to prevent it racing.
The device also makes a very good stand. When the rider stops, he can engage two catches, which keep the boards down and allow the rider to dismount and leave the machine upright. Handle starting from the bottom bracket is provided for, and the device can be fitted by anyone to any machine, as there are only two clips to fix.
Absolute immunity from sideslip under any conditions is claimed by the inventor, Mr W Barsby, 6 Cecil Court, Charing Cross Road, London WC.
The machine has been ridden on the London streets for the past 12 months, with full satisfaction. It is fully patented, will shortly be on the market and meanwhile can be inspected at the above address by any of the readers of Motor Cycling.


Not that Mr Barsby had the market all to himself.
W Hayes of Ball’s Pond Road in North London was busy promoting his Jack No-Skid which, for 27s 6d, would “absolutely prevent sideslip”.
It comprised two small wheels each side of the driving wheel “which can be be put in and out of engagement with the road by means of a Bowden wire”. The Jack No-Skid was said to take less than five minutes to fit and, like the Barsby system, it also worked as a stand.
You know it makes sense.

Now here's a pre-WW1 idea that looks silly at first glance, but in these days of heads-up displays maybe its time has come. Le Grand's goggles, as they were known, seem to have a lot going for them.

Some ideas are so obvious it seems they've been there forever. Not so. Judging by this product story we should be celbrating the centenary of the humble reserve fuel tap, which has saved many a rider from a long walk.
The AMAC spare petrol tap is a clever idea of the Aston Street Accessory Co. The tap in the central position communicates only with the raised pipe which sticks up some little way in the tank. When the flow from this sources ceases, the rider knows he has about an inch of spirit left, and then turns the tap to the right and drains the last dregs from the tank, for the tap now communicates with the tiny hole which is flush with the bottom of the petrol tank. The tap can also be turned completely off, and is automatically locked by a small stop in the two extreme positions, while a spring washer also prevents it from moving when not desired.
It has the advantage of giving warning to the rider when his petrol supply is getting low, for he knows that when he has to tap his reserve supply he can only do some 10 to 12 miles on the contents of his tank. We understand that several prominent manufacturers are taking up this novel little fitment.