The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-07
THE WATER BICYCLE.

along Jn6 Boston WDdTVeS IOT u lew udyS
past by the sight of man walking on
the water. At least, he seemed to be
walking on the water, but a closer
scrutiny would disclose the fact that he
was snugly floating on boat, or rather
two of them, arranged on the catamaran
principle, which he propelled much as
iandsmen drive their wheels" This
odd machine is the marine bicycle,
which, after many struggles and disap-
pointments, has now been brought to
state of practical efficiency
There is no reason why the sport of
bicycling, that has sprung into such ex-
traordinary favor on shore, should not
also be pursued on our lakes, bays and
rivers. The marine bicycle is light,
strong, safe and swift. Its mechanism
is exceedingly simple. Itcannot capsize
like a racing yacht, and its speed far out
strips any rowboat. There is something
exhilarating in being borne along
smoothly as if by wings over the surface
of the water. There is no steam boiler
to get out of order; no furnace to be fed;
no choking fumes of naphtha. The
marine bicycler can laugh alike at Gains
and squalls, and if he takes "header,"
he gets wet Jacket and not a broken
head. The floats are so constructed as
to be practically unsuitable. Young
America takes so naturally to the water
and has such strong liking for any
thing that is new that it would not be
strange if another summer the marine BIZ
cycle were pretty we'll represented where
ever pleasure boats gather along the
coast.
But the most interesting thing about
the marine bicycle to the person who has
a taste for mechanics is the novelty and
originality of its method of propulsion.
There is nothing very complicated about
it. Anybody looking at the apparatus
would say at first glance that 1t was the
most simple and natural contrivance in
the world. Midway between the floats
is an elevated framework, on which the
bicycler sits in an ordinary bicycle seat
with his feet on the pedals and his hands
on the handle bars of the steering gear
before him. These pedals turn Wheel
and over this wheel runs chain much
like that on the "Safeties" This chain
goes down into the water and turns the
shaft of two bladed propeller, some
thing more than foot and less than two
feet below the surface.
A vely simple apparatus, one would
say Yes, it is simple, but it is the fruit
of tremendous amount of study and
experiment. The propeller, which looks
so simple, is really almost mechanical
paradox. For the shaft to which it is
fastened hangs on an arm which is as
free to swing forward and backward
through the water as the weight OF
pendulum. By means of an attachment
the propeller and its shaft can be instant
ly lifted right out of the water, or
dropped in again to the required depth.
H. l.. al ysghn 70 Cfo RI
machine he drops his propeller into the
water, where it hangs directly under
him, and turns his pedals. The pro-
peller. hanging there as free to move
forward or backward as pendulum, re-
wolves with great velocity. The Oh
servers instructive thought is that its
revolutions will Immediately throw it
out of the water. But, as a matter of
fact, it continues to whisk around as
steadily as if it were rigidly attached to
the shaft of an Atlantic liner, and the
boat darts swiftly ahead.
WHY, in fiat contradiction to all
theories, the rapid revolutions OF this
loosely hanging propeller do not throw
it out of the water is mystery which
calls for an explanation. The inventor
himself frankly says that he cannot ex
plain it. He only knows that the pro-
peller does not swing itself out of the
water, and that it does propel the boat.
The problem is one which has puzzled
all laymen who have seen it and it would
seem to be we'll worthy of the attention
of scientists. But the pendulum pro-
peller is not the only curious and origi-
nal feature of this apparatus. The chan
which turns it operates on novel
| principle. 1t transmits it's power direct
j.. ,;,rIE MIL
vention of shaft-an achieY which
is sometimes pronounced an impossi-
bility.
The propeller of the marine bicycle and
the apparatus which runs it is applicable
to larger vessels, and it is understood
that negotiations are on foot to equip
heavy schooners now building in Maine
shipyards with this device. OF course
tho propeller and the apparatus would
| have to be made immensely larger and
stronger to move vessel of a thousand
tons. New England ship owners will be
interested in a continuance which is
claimed to promise so much in the way
of shortening voyages and dispensing
with the services of tugs. This appara-
tus. it is said, can be attached to the side
of any vessel and operated by the hoist
ing engine which is now carried by all
except the smallest schooners in the
coasting trade. When not in use the
propeller can be hoisted up to the rail
and slowed as simply as an anchor.
When it is wanted either in case of a
calm or in entering harbor it can be
lowered almost instantaneously and set
at work. The device has already been
brought to the attention of the expert
shipbuilders of Bath, and it is said that
they were amazed that they themselves
had not hit upon thing so simple and
apparently so practicable. 1t is also
claimed that the apparatus can be ad
iusted to the side of steamers carrying
auxiliary engines, and used in case of a
breakdown of the regular machinery,
and that it can be inserted inside of the
CONFERENCE.-The of calling hnats