Cycling art, energy, and locomotion : $b A series of remarks on the development of bicycles, tricycles, and man-motor carriagesScott, Robert P. (Robert Pittis)
History
Cycling art, energy, and locomotion : $b A series of remarks on the development of bicycles, tricycles, and man-motor carriages
Scott, Robert P. (Robert Pittis)
Bicycles; Cycling; Tricycles
“The combination of wheel _A B C_ with a pair of wheels and body to
form the running-gear of a vehicle, in the manner shown and described.
“+F. H. C. Mey.+”
* * * * *
The claim could have been greatly improved by including the whip _D_
and female _E_ in the combination; at least, it is certain that these
two elements would be needful. Two twenty-five pound dogs would hardly
tread-mill a hundred-pound vehicle and a hundred-and-fifty-pound
female up some of the Baltimore hills.
[Illustration: J. L. Hornig, of Jersey City. Velocipede. No. 191,145.
Patented May 22, 1877.]
HORNIG SPECIFICATION.
“The saddle _I_ may be made adjustable longitudinally on the
balance-beam _E_, or it may be made to slide thereon longitudinally.
“A hand-lever, _K_, pivoted to the reach, and connected with the crank
_g_, serves to throw the crank off the centre in starting the vehicle.
“The saddle _I_ may be a side-saddle for ladies’ use, and two removable
saddles may be provided for a single vehicle, one of which may be a
side-saddle, and in this way a single velocipede may be used either by
a gentleman or lady, or by boys and girls.
“The operation of the invention is as follows: The rider throws his
weight alternately on the treadle and on the seat, rising on his feet
when throwing his weight on the treadle, and lowering himself upon the
saddle again, _as in riding a galloping horse_. In this way the entire
weight of the body is utilized, both in rising and falling, to propel
the vehicle, the muscles being used in a far more advantageous manner,
and furnishing a much more healthful exercise than in the propulsion
of a velocipede by the use of first one foot and then the other in the
highly-disadvantageous method of applying muscular power heretofore
employed.”
* * * * *
Good for Mr. Hornig! But he will have to get his galloping velocipede
on the market pretty soon or his patent will expire.
[Illustration: Scientific American, September 1, 1877.]
“THE COVENTRY TRICYCLE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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