If your Great Grandmother suffered from having a Bicycle Face it could have been avoided...
Broadstruck
Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
Had she carried this token below at all times! 
:'(
1901 World's Fair, Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, New York, 31mm Diameter, Aluminum, Token
Using the newfangled contraption could lead to a terrifying medical condition.
"THE UNCONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MAINTAIN ONE'S BALANCE TENDS TO PRODUCE A WEARIED AND EXHAUSTED 'BICYCLE FACE'"
"Over-exertion, the upright position on the wheel, and the unconscious effort to maintain one's balance tend to produce a wearied and exhausted 'bicycle face,'" noted the Literary Digest in 1895. It went on to describe the condition: "usually flushed, but sometimes pale, often with lips more or less drawn, and the beginning of dark shadows under the eyes, and always with an expression of weariness." Elsewhere, others said the condition was "characterized by a hard, clenched jaw and bulging eyes."
Full article link on this condition as found on the web
Comments
Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?
@GaCoinGuy Coffee breath? Very amusing @Broadstruck I always open your threads because I find your sense of humor very compatible with mine.
It's a racial slur aimed at a specific ethnic group in a derogatory manner. Unfortunately, such was seen on many tokens even merchant advertising cards from the turn of the century through the 1940's.
Prevents love and unhappy marriage too. Why would anyone want to carry it.
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at least the token is somewhat interesting, just saying
Mr_Spud
Thank you for the info. I have never heard that term before. It is an interesting piece.
As these types of tokens are often called medical amulets (not to be confused with earlier quack medicine batteries and amulets) or "Cure-Alls", Dark Brown Taste is very often interpreted as referring to liver bile (from overindulgence) in keeping with the overall theme of the piece. There are dozens of varieties and issuers of this popular type of token from all over the country with many of them having a misogynistic twist in the wording consistent with the turn-of-the-century (1900) times.
Face bleach? Lord knows what was in that stuff!
Kinda reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's "Side Effects" skit;
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Nice token Broadstruck! I think I have
seen that obverse design before. Was it paired with different reverses?
earth, you just gotta love it...
LINK
This just popped up on my Facebook feed, I think she needs one of those tokens. I wonder if it showing up on my Facebook has something to do with me googling bicycle face earlier today 🤔
Mr_Spud
Good stuff I'm bookmarking this thread.
I've gotta get one of those!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, and sorry as I got sidetracked....
Off the top of my head, I don't recall seeing that obverse buffalo used with another reverse designed die but it's possible.
A Buck a bottle.........................pretty expensive in 1901 if you ask me.
Pete
Source?
My Early Large Cents
This paperweight would match that token exquisitely!
"Dark Brown Taste" is also a slang term meaning to wake up and taste something without brushing one's teeth before.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
Seen on Black Americana memorabilia issued at the same time period.
Did James Earle Fraser make this ?
Is it so similar to the Buffalo nickel, even the font style of the date.
Thanks for any help.
Chris
I thought this might refer to someone doing a face plant off a bicycle.
Which I have done.
Source?> @Broadstruck said:
I would argue that its a double entendre in that example.
My Early Large Cents
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is the OP example yours or you just sharing an peculiar token you came across?
you and a handful of people have been posting super esoteric stuff for a long time, much to our enjoyment!
Here's the only Bicycle face I could think of....
Thanks... It's mine as it was part of a small exonumia group lot I recently bought and just photographed.
It says it prevents "Love" & "Unhappy Marriages".
Is this NOT counterproductive ?
Any comments ?
Chris
good call.
love is for sure the worst and simultaneously best on the list. a true testament to its power.
i suppose most are in the camp of, "better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
Ms. BucketHead and I are cyclists and this thread made our day.
I showed it to her and she said “I always wondered what happened to you”.
Cheers.