HORSHAM man Dan Bolwell’s passion for penny farthings has taken him to international levels.
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Mr Bolwell builds and sells penny farthings from his home.
Two years ago he quit his job to focus on the venture full-time.
Mr Bolwell has now been contacted by a New York film producer and will travel to Malaysia with his work.
“Film producer Ion Furjanic emailed me and said he wanted me to make up an unusual, oversized bike, that plays music when you ride it,” he said.
He said after some discussion with the film crew, it was decided it was best if he went to Malaysia to work on the bike in the studio.
“I have built the wheels already and I will take them over with me,” he said.
Mr Bolwell said he would be working in the background of the film and the bike would also be used in the film.
“There’s probably a week’s worth of work preparing the bike before I go and then I'm there for three days finishing it,” he said.
“I leave next week - it’s all happened pretty quickly.”
However, this isn’t the only international company Mr Bolwell is working with.
“I’m working with an opera company in the US at the moment too,” he said.
“I’ve worked on some television commercials and I've also supplied bikes for the new Australian comedy show Open Slather, to be used as props”
Mr Bolwell said when he first started building bikes, he never thought he would be working internationally.
“I’ve learnt never to be surprised now as I have no idea who is going to be on the end of the phone when I get inquiries,” he said.
“I never thought I would end up doing something like this though, it just shows anything can happen.”
Mr Bolwell said he made a fearless decision when he quit full time work.
“I had no idea where it was going to go and it was tough to get established at first.
“Within two years, to be contacted by international companies is pretty fantastic.”
Mr Bolwell said he also enjoyed the luxury of working from home.
“I have children so I’m always home now,” he said.
“The fearless decision has paid off and it’s all done from little old Horsham.”
