Vintage toolkit - why a mirror?

[Specialeyes]

I left a speculative pair of bids on a "his 'n hers" pair of Dawes recently, and was lucky enough to win (a Super Galaxy and a rather lovely Galaxy Mixte).

The Super still had a saddlebag attached, complete with a canvas tool roll inside, which weighed about 1.5kg in total, including a full set of allen keys and multiple flat spanners (the 1970s kind, generally made of cheese).

2 items intrigued me though - see photos below.

One of which I found out is a Maillard Helicomatic freewheel lockring spanner, complete with built-in bottle opener and spoke key slots. The other is a small mirror (in a rather splendid 'Florida - the sunshine state' vinyl pouch). This set me wondering. The immaculate condition of these 2 bikes, combined with the extent of the toolkit implied to me that the previous owner was a keen and meticulous cyclist. Neither bike has a Maillard freewheel, I should add! I also suspect that 'he' rode a bit more than 'she' as his was a triple-equipped Super while hers was a double-chainset Galaxy... but what I couldn't work out was why you'd need a mirror as part of a toolkit?

So, great minds of Vintage & Classic, why would one need a mirror as part of a toolkit on a gentleman's bike?

Vintage tools.jpg

• Specialeyes
• 22 Nov 2020

Maillard and mirror.jpg

• Specialeyes
• 22 Nov 2020

 

[Drago]

To assist when one is waxing knes moustache.

 

[Cycleops]

What gentleman would go out without checking his appearance in a mirror?

 

[Drago]

And the bottle opener is for popping the top on a bottle of mosutache wax.

 

[mjr]

Is it to check if one's fellow rider is still breathing after a rest under a nice tree?

I wonder if it's for looking at places like under the BB or inside the mudguards without having to get down in the mud? Inspection mirrors seem often suggested for motorbike expedition toolkits, such as https://advrider.com/f/threads/the-toolkit-thread.262998/page-267#post-40828095

 

[Randomnerd]

Stiff necked geezer. Whipped it out to see who’s behind him at junctions.

Spy. Semaphore messages to boats from clifftops

Transgender bimbler. Liked to check “his” lippie half way round.

 

[roley poley]

check face for mucky oil smuts /squashed flies on teeth before you go in the pub and get giggled at

 

[DRM]

Did you get them from Howard & Marina? (Last of the summer wine) could have been used to check his Mrs wasn't sneaking up on them!

 

[Chris S]

If a mirror is in a pouch with 'Florida' on it then cocaine comes to mind.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

One always has a shave mid ride, so one looks just as good riding home.

 

[bagpuss]

So as you could look yourself in eye......any suggestions why ? answers on a post card to vanity fair

 

[Drago]

Is to allow one to visually inspect the state of ones Nurembergs after a long ride?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

It’s also used to signal SOS to passing planes in the event you are incapacitated. After all we are talking pre mobile phones.

 

[sheddy]

to remove a bug from ones eye.

 

[sheddy]

and ladies need to look fabulous at all times.