IT came to be seen as an icon of its era, but in the summer of 1973 the Raleigh Chopper was merely every child’s dream bike.

When we ran a large advertising feature that summer, the machine had been around for four years, but the announcement of a new model generated a flurry of excitement among young people.

The Mk2, as it was known, had various modifications which set it apart from the Mk 1, notably a shorter seat to discourage riders from carrying passengers.

The frame was also slightly altered to make performing wheelies harder, and the knob-shaped gear lever was swapped for a T-shaped one. This reduced the pain suffered by riders who slipped from the seat on to the crossbar – but not by much.

Those gear levers have featured in the routines of many an observational comedian who was a 1970s child.

Younger children could choose from a range of smaller machines including the Tomahawk, the Chipper and the Budgie.

Our feature had adverts for local bike shops and a text adapted from the manufacturer’s press release.

It began: “There is only one Chopper – the Raleigh Chopper, which has nothing whatever to do with other hi-rise bicycles of exaggerated design and doubtful quality, or conventional bicycles which have been adapted by the fitting of hi-rise handlebars and polo type saddles.”

Alan Oakley, from whose drawing board the Chopper came, was quoted: “There is more to designing a cycle than coming up with an interesting shape.”

Most of the rest of the piece urged buyers to avoid pale imitations of the Chopper, and to trust the advice of their dealer.

Each advert carried the same text, which began: “Imagine yourself on this great machine. Riding where the action is. Where the fun comes thick and fast.”

Swindon dealers who took adverts included Crossways Cycle Store in Cricklade Road, Western Cycles Centre in Fleet Steet, David Large Cycles in Whitehouse Road and Artdeans in Rodbourne Road. Dealers in Devizes, Chippenham and Bromham also advertised.

Choppers were produced until the early 1980s and revived in the mid-2000s.