Fifties Halfords cycle cape advertisement

Halfords, the car accessory and parts store – and cycle shop – was founded in Redditch by Frederick Rushbrooke. Born in 1861 he was from the generation that saw cycling as the great liberator, allowing people to travel independently much further than would have been able to before, unless, or course, they were fortunate enough to own a horse.

Rushbrooke’s first business was an ironmongery, opened in 1892 and this was followed up by another, in Leicester’s Halford Street, in 1902. This was called the Halford Cycle Shop. And it was appropriate that on a wet Welsh day while surfing the ‘net we came across this 1952 Halfords full-page advertisement which seemed highly suited to Pluvmantelo.

We’re liking the girl caped-up against the elements: it’s highly likely this was a proper oilskin cape (or waterproof cape, as the advertisement tells us) so popular at the time.

Now all we have to do is find a Halfords cape from this time… Any ideas?