"He never gave away a
farthing in his life," growled Tinker.
"Not so much as one
farthing; and ten good shillings' worth of ale have ye drunk this day.
I should be five years getting to it, and should have to spend two hundred a year in going circuit before I had earned a
farthing. Physic?
"The joke is just worth the odd
farthing it was made for."
David Fox-Pitt and Neil Laughton covered the 841 miles in 13 days perched precariously aboard a pair of
farthings, last considered a mode of transport some 139 years ago.
It was a step back in time at the Black Country Living Museum where a magnificent display of vehicles were on show - from Penny
Farthings to classic cars.
The
Farthings' dream turned to a nightmare as they were forced to make the 15,500-mile round trip back to Britain.
Everyone from children on their first bikes to stunt cyclists and penny
farthings were out in force, enjoying the sunshine and the free entertainment.
In UK pre-decimal coinage, how many
farthings were in one penny?
The small and sharing dishes are from the new evening menu at the Penny
Farthing (formerly
Farthings).
The exhibition will feature penny
farthings and boneshakers from the 19th Century alongside bikes from every decade throughout the 20th century and contemporary carbon fibre racing bikes used in the Tour.
The wager was over which drop would trickle to the bottom first - and the loser was so angry at his defeat he paid up in 4,800 new
farthings withdrawn from his bank.
