Robert Vogt

Robert Anthony Vogt was born in Glasgow in 1869, the sixth of nine children. His parents, Anthony and Sophia, were both from Neustadt in Germany, and moved to Glasgow in 1840 where Anthony established a watchmaker and jewellery business in Saltmarket. In the 1850s he moved his shop to Argyle Street and the family lived in a flat nearby. On leaving school at fifteen, Vogt apprenticed to a cabinet-making firm but left after a year and instead apprenticed to Hugh Wilkie, a small independent watchmaker in Duke Street. Clearly the family genes were strong for he won a medal for the quality of a watch he fabricated. By the time he had become a qualified watchmaker his family owned two jewellery shops in the city and Robert took on the management of the one in North Street, Anderston. The other, in Great Western Road, was managed by his brother, Louis. 

Both he and Louis were keen athletes and members of the Clydesdale Harriers, and Vogt began riding a 50 inch Humber high wheel bicycle. His brother eventually convinced him to enter a race in June 1888 at the Queen's Park Sports and Vogt borrowed a racing model. Although he won his heat, he lost in the final.[1] He raced a number of times over that summer, including at Maybole where the track left much to be desired: ‘The want of sufficient banking on the track was clearly demonstrated by the tyre chucking epidemic which set in on Saturday, no less than five tyres coming off with the side strain at the corners, resulting in two spills.’ Vogt came third in the One Mile but crashed in the Three Mile Open Handicap. ‘The race was robbed of much interest by Vogt who, although riding well, through being reckless at the corners spilled, bringing down Allan with him.’[2]

He then joined Bellahouston Bicycle Club and at the Morton Football Club Sports day in 1888 impressed with wins in two races: ‘There was also some beautiful bicycle racing, but that double win of Robert Vogt’s in the one and three mile must have been eye-opener to the handicapper.’[3] He raced on both high wheel and safety bicycles, and was successful on both, although in his later career he switched completely to a safety bicycle as by that time all raced on safeties. By 1890 he was the West of Scotland Champion and he ended that by year winning the Five Mile Championship of Scotland at the annual meet in Edinburgh in a time of 16mins 13 3/5sec.[4] By mid-1991 he had won sixty-two prizes and was Scottish Champion in the One Mile, Five Mile and Twenty Five Mile.

In June 1890 one of the first safety bicycles fitted with pneumatic tyres appeared at a race in Ayr although the press was as interested in the appearance of Mr Moore, a ‘gentleman of colour who was the crowd’s firm favourite, being loudly cheered throughout.’[5] Moore appeared as a competitor in both athletic and cycling events that year but sadly no more is known about the man who may have been the first black man to take part in a bicycle race in Scotland. However, within a month or two, the use of pneumatic tyres in racing was banned: ‘The inventor of the Pneumatic, however, must be given the credit for placing a perfect boon in the hands of cyclists. No greater compliment could have been paid to the tyre than the decision of the Sports Committees in Scotland to bar pneumatic from races in the meantime.’[6] By the 1891 season the blanket ban had been altered to allowing bicycles fitted with pneumatic tyres to race separately from cycles fitted with cushion tyres. This division remained for a few years until pneumatic tyres had become standard. When Vogt won his first race using pneumatic tyres he was presented with a watch – perhaps an inappropriate prize for a skilled watchmaker.

One Tuesday evening in 1892 he accompanied his friend E. Campbell to Glasgow’s Ibrox Park as he had agreed to act as a pacer for Campbell’s attempt to beat the one mile record. ‘On Tuesday evening Mr R. A. Vogt, of the Northern C.C. accomplished a remarkable performance at Ibrox Park. Having first paced E. Campbell in attempt to beat the one mile record, which failed by two seconds only, the cycle champion was induced to try his hand at record-breaking. Starting with the flying quarter he reduced the record by 3-5ths of a sec. He then succeeded in knocking 3-5ths of a sec off the one mile record that had been made at Hampden Park the previous evening by J. McLaren and afterwards, starting at a late hour, went on to lower the records in all distances from one up to twenty-two miles. At five miles he was well within the previous best time, and he improved as be went on, completing the remarkable record of 22 miles 427 yards in the hour. Unfortunately, towards the close of the journey, Mr Vogt met with an accident which somewhat retarded his progress. It was almost dark at the time, and as he came along the straight at the new stand got too close the grass, and was pitched over the handle bar. A machine was quickly brought to the spot, and Mr Vogt remounted and finished as stated.’[7] In spite of this remarkable feat Vogt still had sufficient energy to win the Five Mile Championship race at Hampden Park on the following Saturday.

Vogt also raced in England and Ireland, and he decided to try to beat British and World records on the Herne Hill track, reputed to be the best in Britain. Again with the assistance pacers, Vogt broke all the two to ten mile English records and the world records from six to ten miles; the first Scottish cyclist to hold a world record. Vogt always rode a model made by the Glasgow-based New Howe Company and many thought he was subsidised by the company. Whether he was or not, his wins increased the reputation of Howe’s racing bikes.

In 1891 Vogt and his brother opened a shop selling bicycles alongside the jewellery business: ‘Mr Vogt has now made all arrangements for going into the trade, taken a large shop in the Western district, which he is at present fitting up, and will in a few days open as a depot. As is pretty well known he has secured the solo agency for the Elswick machines, and will probably add thereto ere the season is far advanced, for he already has several orders, among these being for a few safeties.’[8] The family’s growing empire also embraced pubs as, in 1892, his widowed mother took the licence of a pub in Great Hamilton Street that Robert’s elder brother, Joseph, managed and Robert later became a Glasgow publican in his own right, taking over a pub in Norfolk Street.

Vogt, who was described as ‘a genial, good-natured fellow’, was generous in his support for other riders. In October 1892 Donald Lacaille started out at half past seven in the morning at Hampden Park to try to create a new Scottish record for the 12 hours. Needing a pacer and no one else being available, Vogt volunteered and paced his friend for 200 miles of the run over eleven hours. Finally, in the darkness, the track lit dimly by a few lamps, Lacaille finished in a new record of 204 miles, 517 yards, his distance and time recorded by Andrew Rennie on his trusty chronograph.[9]

Like all racers Vogt had bad days and he later related that his worst experience had been during a Waverly Roads Club road race in 1892: ‘It’s a day l am not likely to forget. The rain was coming down in sheets, and the roads were heavy with mud. I had sent a friend from Glasgow ahead with a spare machine, but he took the wrong road. My competitors made a good start, but I would have made up on them very soon had my machine not broken down. The rain was falling thick and fast, and it looked as if I could do nothing else but give up, when, luckily, I encountered a gentleman who was returning from a leisurely ride. After some persuasion he agreed to lend me his bicycle, and again I started. The machine did not suit me well at all, but I managed to make up on the others. From start to finish I had nothing either to eat or drink, while my opponents were plentifully supplied with both.’[10] A newspaper report of that race shows he was not the only rider to have a bad experience: ‘Slight and Russell rode tricycles and had an eye on the 100 mile record, but the former after riding 26 miles broke his chain and he walked no less than 18 miles with his broken machine. Russell retired at Stow, having had quite enough "ploughing" for one day. Vogt collided with Davie, and, falling, broke his crank. Getting on to another machine he rode past Heriot and back to within six miles of Stow when he punctured. Two riders retired at Stow, through stress of weather and chains tightening, and another at Leadburn railway station having ridden 108 miles. Two of the remaining cyclists missed their way coming home, and, arriving at Leadburn, also decided to stop. Although the winner, G. S. Peate of Glasgow Merchants lost his way coming home from Hyndford Bridge by taking the West Linton Road instead of the Romano he won the medal having ridden 161 miles.’[11]

In May 1893, again riding on the Herne Hill track, Vogt completed ten miles in 24min 34sec beating the existing British record by sixteen seconds. ‘The difference between the Scotch record and the one created on Monday last is accounted for by the fact that Herne Hill track is constructed chiefly of wood, highly polished on the surface, so as to reduce driving power to almost a minimum, while, as is well known, the tracks in Scotland are all made of cinders.’[12] 

Later that month Vogt was back in Glasgow to race against Arthur Zimmermann, the famous American amateur champion. ‘On Thursday the members of the Merchants Club wanted to take Zimmerman down the river to show him the beauties of the Clyde, but he said no, he guessed he would do some work, and away he went to the track at Parkhead, the ground of the famous Celtic Football Club. The track suited him and he praised its design, substantial banking and surface. In the evening he looked into the Merchants' comfortable club house, where a smoker was in progress, but he didn't seem to "catch on" to it. The members tried him with good Scotch songs and better Scotch whisky, but he wasn't taking any. When he rose to go he got a tremendous cheer. The Scots liked him. He seemed to possess some of their own reserve, quiet but far from repellent. On Friday night he witnessed a football match between two leading teams, and said he thought association football rather interesting.’ On the Saturday the rain fell in torrents and flooded parts of the track. Yet in spite of the miserable weather fifteen thousand spectators paid to see the great American racer. ‘When Zimmerman appeared in the quarter-mile flying start he got a most enthusiastic reception. Peat, a rising Scottish rider, who was his opponent, got an awful showing up. The Yankee tore round the track in a manner never seen before, leaving his opponent standing, and finished the quarter in 31 3-5 sec, breaking Vogt's previous record of 32 2-5 sec. When "record" was hoisted on the telegraph board the cheering was terrific. The handicaps were run in drenching rain, and Zim did not mount, preferring to watch the proceedings from the balcony of the handsome pavilion. The last item on the programme, a three mile scratch race, was the event of the day, the competitors including the cream of Scottish racing cyclists. Zim turned out, and one of the finest races ever seen in Scotland was the outcome. The lap prize men went for the medals, Zimmerman lying third with Vogt the Scottish champion, McLaren, a sturdy Scottish rider, who may be seen in America this season, and Barden, the Herne Hill wonder, in close attendance. Once or twice attempts were made by several of the riders to get away, but Zim was always there, slipping out of the crowd when any one got ahead. Excitement rose when the bell rang for the last lap, and Zim was noticed to shoot in front for inside position. Vogt went after him, and the two raced round at breakneck speed. Coming up the straight Vogt was holding his own, and the Scotch folk were hopeful that their own champion would win. Zimmerman, who rode without the faintest sign of nervousness or excitement, finished a brilliant race half a wheel in front of Vogt, while McLaren whizzed past into third place, time, 7 min 59 3-5 sec. After the race Zimmerman got a reception that a king might have envied. His day's work was most satisfactory to himself and to the thousands of people who came to see him. Few men break records and win punishing scratch races on their first appearance on the track.’[13]

Zimmermann and Vogt then travelled to Paris to compete in a best of three races with two French riders at the Buffalo Velodrome. It is likely that all four were being paid fees to appear but Zimmermann clearly was being paid far more and this riled his three competitors. Also in spite of the race involving two French competitors, the French press and Parisian spectators were rooting for the American. Zimmermann won the first race, and Vogt and the two Frenchmen connived to work together to beat him on the next round. Their scheming was overheard by the American’s manager who warned Zimmermann that he would need to pull out something special. Zimmermann answered in his normal laconic style: 'After the bell.' When the race began Vogt attacked first and took the front with the French cyclists behind and Zimmerman at the back. The crowd fell silent, fearful that their favoured American would be defeated. ‘The bell for the last lap rang and Zimmerman made no move. Then, about halfway from home, he swept past the three with apparent ease, winning by 20 metres.’[14]

If being beaten by Zimmermann again was not bad enough, on his return from Paris Vogt was told by the Scottish Cycling Union that by racing the American, whom the English Cycling Union had deemed to be a professional, he had breached the rules and would be banned from all amateur racing the following year. To add to his misfortune. during a race a cyclist crashed and was seriously injured, and Vogt was judged to have caused the crash by illegal riding. Vogt argued that the accident had not been from any wrong action by him and the dispute dragged on for months. In spite of these problems he won the 100 Mile Scottish Championship that year.

In July 1895 Vogt married Mary Stewart and the young couple departed for their honeymoon tour in the South of England and the Continent. When his ban ended he resumed racing, although now he could only race in the semi-professional class races. Unfortunately he suffered a major crash soon after starting racing again. Various cyclists clashed in a race and came down. The pedal of one of the fallers caught Vogt on the back of the head, inflicting a gash about two inches deep. ‘The flesh was literally scooped from his head. On being picked up Vogt was found to be unconscious but came round. Three surgeons who were rallied rendered timely aid. The injured man was afterwards removed home in a cab. Besides the wound to his head, one of Vogt's fingers and his right shoulder are also badly hurt. There is little likelihood his appearing at any cycling meeting during the rest of the season.’[15]

In the summer of 1897 Vogt was chosen for the Scottish team to race at the Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow. The three day event involving twelve countries was held at Celtic Park on the concrete banked track that had been built specially for the event. On the opening day 16,000 spectators crowded into the stadium. Many of them would have never attended a professional bicycle race before and no doubt expected to see these famous cyclists speed off as soon as the starting pistol fired. However, the reality was quite different as these men were the champions they were through canny riding: ‘The Glasgow sky was at its clearest, so that when the sun shone out upon the vast amphitheatre in the midst of which was the gleaming red track and the green sward dotted with kilted bandsmen, the eye was abundantly satisfied and the mind stirred to expect great deeds. In the short distance races which followed, however, these expectations were curiously falsified. For upon hearing the starting pistol the competitors did not speed out of the blocks, but rather crawled off with slow, wobbling, hesitating movement, each man watching his neighbour with an alert, sidelong glance. Sometimes, indeed, they seemed to stop altogether, and always they crept along, climbing the steep sides of the track to lengthen the journey, and playing a game which would lead a novice to believe that the last man across the tape was to be the winner. For crowds (and indeed journalists) not clued up on the science behind slipstreaming, such a performance provoked a less than favourable reaction. It was not until the final lap that the racers laid themselves down to the work and pedalled furiously, skirmished and shuffled and bored to get position on the inside edge of the track, and came flying round to the winning-point at the speed of an express train. They had covered a mile in something over six minutes! Whereupon the disgusted spectators declared that an active man could almost have walked the distance in that time.’[16] There also was disappointment among the Glasgow crowd as Vogt and the other Scottish competitors performed poorly.

In an interview Vogt talked about the change from racing on a high wheel to a safety: ‘When the high bicycle gave place to the new safety bicycle, it was said that racing men would find it difficult to maintain their speed and reputation; but such has not been the case. In Vogt's instance it has been the other way about, for the safety has brought to him even greater success. Yet to give up the machine that won him his first laurels appears to have been like parting with a friend. “I gave up the good old Ordinary with regret,” he admitted. Altogether Vogt has won about 300 prizes and close on 100 medals, most of them firsts. "I prefer the English tracks," said Vogt. "What about the Scotch? Are they not so good!" "No. The Celtic track is undoubtedly the best, but it is not equal to the English. Scotch clubs do not bank their tracks high enough."’[17]

Vogt retired from racing in 1901. However, in 1910 he organised a veteran’s race in Glasgow that he advertised as being ‘confined to youths over 55 years of age. While a contest of this kind may evoke a certain amount of interest, even when run on a track or road, the interest in this particular contest will be considerably augmented by the fact that the "last lap" is up the famous Balmano Brae. The first contestant to arrive at the top of this little pimple will be adjudged the winner, and will receive a silver cup for his prowess in dusting the jackets of his fellow competitors and overtaxing his heart at the same time.’[18] Vogt rode his much-loved old 52 inch High bicycle but whether he beat the rest to the top of Balmano Brae is not known.  He died in 1929.

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