Item № 124
The Ice Cream Tricycle
The summer of 1976 altered the pace of British streets. Water use was restricted across several regions. Grass browned. Reservoir levels dropped. Movement slowed under prolonged heat. In residential areas, one of the few consistent sounds was the metallic chime of a vendor approaching at walking speed.
Ice cream tricycles were engineered for circulation rather than permanence. A pedal-driven rear frame supported a front-mounted insulated compartment designed to retain cold in elevated temperatures. The raised word “ICES” functioned as both instruction and announcement. Branding was minimal. Presence relied on repetition.
Item No. 124 compresses that configuration into silver. Rear saddle. Twin front wheels. Raised lettering. Hinged lid. The wheels remain operational. The lid does not.
The hinge shows evidence of long-term compression and oxidation. It was examined and left sealed. The interior remains unobserved.
Surface contamination was removed during conservation. Oxidation within recessed lettering and wheel joints was retained where stable. No structural alteration was undertaken. The object was fitted with a black cotton cord for suspension.
The lid remains closed. The wheels still turn.