The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-16

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HE BICYCLE-J. L. H., E>condido, San
Diego County. Cal. The bicycle is the sue
eessor of the velocipede, a light road carriage
for a single person, originally propelled by the
action OF the rider in striking the tips OF the
feet on the roadway. In 1857 a machine with
three wheels, supposed TO have been the first
velocipede, was invented in England by man
named Richard Lowell Edgeworth. Subse-
ouenrly other machines Of a similar character
were in use in England. What is supposed 10
he the pareut of the present wheel was the in
yeutIon of Baron Won Drais Frenchman, who
lived In Mannheim, and who introduced his
Invention 10 England In 1878. This was called
in England a ''dandyhOrse," but in other por
tions of the Continent wherr 1t was exhibited 1t
was known as the Draisnene or celerifere. 1t
consisted OF Two wheels about thirty inches In
diameter one in The wake OF the other and the
Two Joined by beam OF wood on The middle
of which was placed a saddle or perch and al
the fore end arm-rest connected with the hub
OF tn fore wheel. The mode of prOprlling this
confriyanc was very simple and is thus de-
beam, got into he saddle, aud resting bis arms
on the support referred TO pushed the dandy
horse ahead by kicking be ground Win me
right and left foot alternately. When certain
impetus had been attained he could ii ne was
a skillful rider, cease the Kicking process roe
with his fee Off the ground and allow the ma
chine 10 run until there was slowing up, ana
then he would haVr TO resume the kicking
process" The appearance OF gentleman on
such a contriVance. and his method OF kicking
himself ahead, made him appear RIDICULOUS.
The caricalurisLs made all sorts oil fun Oh the
daudyborse and finally drove him on the road
In 1916 a Scotch cooper named Gavin Dali
zelI, living In LanaTkshire, invented WOODEN
horse The saddles were low and on either
were stirrups. connected bv iron rods with the
axle of The driving wheel, and b inc moved
backward and forward alternately, caused Tie
morse 10 go ahead The ScOtchman's idea was
good but il did not meet with popular FAVOR
Until l864-67, when C rtain Improvements
were made by NJ MichauX, a frenchman. He
fhe Dse OF these the forward wheels could o.
reyolyed BY using the feet The forward Wheei
was affixed 10 an arrangement that permitted
II 10 be TUNED by means Of the cross bar above
IL This was named bicycle, but The common
name for 1t was The "boneshaker"; II Deing