“The velocipede, in which the brace _W_ is secured to the front part of the reach forming part of the bearing for the vertical shaft _U_, and supports for the pendent levers _L_, _L_, secured to the brace, one on each side, in combination with rods _P_, _P_, connected with cranks _N_, and attached to the pendent levers _L_, _L_, by means of pivots, all combined as herein shown and described. “+Samuel F. Estell.+” * * * * * This is almost an exact copy of the Dalzell contrivance, alleged to have been made in 1845–46. The greatest fault in this system consists in the direction of application of power, being a forward thrust instead of a downward. The machine has merit, however; and should have been heard from in the early days of cycling. [Illustration: “VELOX.” A. Christian and J. Reinhart. Velocipede. No. 87,245. Patented February 23, 1869.] REMARKS ON PATENT TO CHRISTIAN AND REINHART. VELOCIPEDE. This drawing is a fine illustration of the practice of draughtsmen, in which they essay to impress upon the office and the public, by means of their deft pencils, the miraculous speed and easy locomotion attainable in their clients’ devices. This drawing has always been an amusing one to me, a bright spot in the tedious work of going through the patent files. Some wag of the office, having been similarly struck with the humor of this picture, embossed beneath the principal figure, in a large bold hand, the simple word “VELOX.” Now, I never happened to have a lexicon at hand in which to look up the exact meaning of the word, but I did not, for one moment, doubt its appropriateness. There seemed to be something in the word that carried conviction with it; if it did not mean anything pertinent to the subject, there was always a feeling that it ought to. In scanning patent drawings, in this art, I always turned “Velox” down so that when wearied by the toil of research, I could turn over the papers and smile at “Velox.” The modern drop-frame for tricycles and rear-driving bicycles would be a valuable improvement on Messrs. Christian and Reinhart’s invention; some of our ladies would object to a free exhibition of quite so much shoe-top. [Illustration: T. W. Ward, of New York. Velocipede. No. 88,683. Patented April 6, 1869.] “The drawing represents a perspective view of my improved one-wheeled velocipede. “This invention relates to a certain improvement on that class of one-wheeled velocipedes in which the driver’s seat is arranged above the wheel, it being pivoted to the axle of the same. “The invention has for its object to provide for an easy balancing of the frame, and consists in attaching weights to the lower end of the seat-frame, whereby the same will be retained in a vertical position.