Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-05-26
SOME QUEER CYCLES.
extraordinary S1etl,oas Adopted to Mako
WEcclu Go Round.

Extraordinary Methods Adopted to Mako
Wkcclu Go Round.
The bicycle passed through many curious
stages before it reached its present state of
perfection. This machine is one that DE-
culiarly excites the inventive genius of
man, and the designs that have been made
in years past with the view of getting the
greatest amount of speed with the least ex-
pendturc of energy are wonderful to be-
hold.
One of the earliest forms of yelocipede
was that invented in the eighteenth century
by one John Viewers, master of boarding
school at Rcigate, Surrey, England. Mr..
vevers had large number of wealthy
Young men in his school, and he conceived
the bright notion of providing for them
travelling chaise without horses. The rider
was to be seated in the carriage where he
could manage the steering apparatus, while
servant, hanging on by q step behind,
propelled the machine. This bicycle" did
not meet with much favor, the chief objcc-
ton being that it did not run fast enough.
To such objections Mr.. Viewers replied that
the fault was not with his machine, but
with the propelling power Of the servant.
II, he argued, the servant were as strong as
two ordinary men, the machine could be
made to go twice as fast. which shows that
Mr. Vcvers was as clever at repartee as at
mechanical invention.
Another queer machine was invented by
Frenchman about $780, He went to q
great deal Of pains and expense to have the
bicycle constructed, but after it was fin
ished found that he could not ride it. The
reason is plain. The machine was driven
by pressing the feet upon projections OH
the rim of the forward wheel. There was
no nosteering gear or brake. ltwould require
amodcrn expert to ride such bicycle.
Some years before this a Scotchman had
devised what he dubbed self moving car
riagc The adjective is misleading, for the
carriage was designed to be moved by Il
man sitting behind. The machine never
got any further than paper, and it is doubt
lulw whether it would have moved at all had
It been built. 1t was calculated to carry
seven persons and was to be propelled by
means of treadlcs.
1t remained for all American to devise
The most remarkable cycle on record. The
name and address of the inventor have been
lost, but there is little doubt that he was q
Yankee. The contrivance consisted of a
sort of miniature dogcart, on which was
box seat. This was connected by means of
a pole with large wheel in front, SO ar
ranged that it could contain two dogs. The
machine was guided by means of steering
rod, with handle conveniently near the
rider The inventor reckoned that the
dogs, in their natural desire to escape,
would run forward, thus revolving the
wheel, somewhat after the manner of a
prisoner on trcadmill. Even supposing
mat dogs could be procured which would
perform this service, there remains the
question of weight, which was the straw
mat broke the inventors back.
lie found that, with the clumsy materials
shen in use, the carriage complete would
weigh about 200 pounds. To this was to be
added the weight of 150-pound lady, for
the machine was designed especially for
~oman'suse. Considerable discussion arose
as 70 how heavy the dogs would have to be
III order to drive this weight, and book
written on the subject said that two 40
pound dogs would not suffice. The invent
oF' therefore, deciding that animals of
greater weight could not be accommodated,
abandoned his task.
ihe first rear driving safety was built by
Heeotch n blacksmith of the name of Gavin
'H, nilIel in 1886. The foot power was ap-
p'eu TO levers attached to cranks on tho
rear wheel.-New York World