Use the generated electricity to power a lamp.
It was practical, reusable, and relatively simple.
Of course, the system had drawbacks.
Because the dynamo pressed against the moving tire, it created some additional resistance. Riders could feel that extra drag, particularly when pedaling uphill or traveling at lower speeds.
The light could also become dimmer when the bicycle slowed.
Nevertheless, the technology represented an ingenious solution to a very real problem.
The Moment the Mystery Finally Makes Sense
There is something satisfying about identifying an old object.
Before you know its purpose, it is simply a collection of shapes.
After you know its purpose, every part seems obvious.
The small roller suddenly has a reason.
The mounting mechanism makes sense.
The electrical components have a job.
The unusual shape is no longer random.
This is one reason people enjoy vintage-object puzzles so much.
They are not merely tests of memory.
