New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14
AN ORIGINAL AUTOMOBILE.
ROBERT DUDGEON'S STEAM ROAD
WAGON" OF FIFTY YEARS AGO.

as n novelty In New York; people see II ana
make use of it with the same indifference as
they show toward other recent inventions, ana
II has passed into the same class with the electric
light the telephone and the monograph. But
there are not many people, even among those
who have watched the development OF this use
ful means OF transportation who know That an
automobile was built and successfully operated
I'm New-York about fifty years ago. The steam
road wagon as Robert Dudgeon, the inventor
called il was not the handsome highly finished
and noiseless piece Of mechanism OF the present
day but il was built to accomplish the same
purpose and despite the great obstacles IN the
shape Of badly paved streets and crude methods
it was considered by the people who saw it
marvellous and ingenious work. and it did the
work for which it was constructed. 1t was ex-
hibited at the Crystal Palace exhibition, ana
was destroyed when the Palace was burned.
But Mr. Dudgeon, who was a successful mas
tcr-machinist with d shop in Columbia st. had
too much Scotch energy and was too fully con-
WINGED of the ultimate success OF the horseless
carriage to give il up because his original WORK
had been destroyed and with the aid of some OF
his best workmen he built another wagon better
ard more convenient than the first. 1t was built
at odd times and after regular work hours and
the men who assisted at the work considered
the pleasure which they derived from seeing the
thing develop and grow ample compensation foi
their labor. There no thought OF patents
and profits, but all looked forward with pleas
ure to the time when the new wagon would take
its place on the streets Of New-Ycrk.
The day came, and there was much rejoicing
in the shop The general plan of the second
WI been
destroyed exccv, that the wheels. which re-
sembled heavy cartwheels in the first wagon
were made solid out OF segments of cedar with
iron fanges and tires in the second 1t was
made to carry sixty gallons of water, and this
was stored under the seats which formed the
two sides OF the vehicle.
On its first trip 1t carried, besides Mr.
Dudgeon. a number of his workmen. and while
nearly all the people who saw 1t speed along
the rough pavement admired II and marvelfed
at the ingenious piece OF mechanism there were
not a few who predicted that its general use
would bring hardship and great loss to the
people who made a living by driving horses TO
carriages and business wagons.
Mr. Dudgeon built the wagon" said John
Weeks, who assisted in It's construction and is
still employed in the concern which Mr. Dudgeon
founded, ito carry him from his place OF busl-
ness to his home, in Harlem, and he made the
trip to One hundred and eighth St to show that
such a thing could be done. He always contend
ed that when streets were once made smooth
horseless carriages would be used generally.
Roads and streets for horses were considered
by him unfit for wheeling, and we have discov-
cred that he was right. But even with the bad
streets laid with rough stones and poorly grad
ed the steam wagon used to make trips regu-
Iarly from Harlem to the shop and back, and
on Sundays it was used to take Mrs. Dudgeon
to church.
But the wagon used only as a motor on
these occasions. carriage was coupled on be
bird it. and in this the women sat while the
driver and the men occupied seats in the steam
wagon"
The wagon is still favOrite theme in the
shop. where many of the men who helped to
build it are still employed. Among these are
A, G. Hambley John Davis, Charles Herbst,
William Todd, Augustus Dufenbach, james
Dawson and John Gross.
According to the accounts of these men, the
primitive automobile must have been queer
looking and noisy thing 1t took two bushels of
coal to run it to One hundred and ighth-st
"But il made good time" said Mr.. Hambey,
land could be guided and steered as nicely and
was as easily controlled as the horseless car
rages Of to-day. OF course it made consider
able noise, and that was probably one reason
why the city authorities, after it had been in
use for about ten years, refused to allow Mr..
Dudgeon to make his trips in it. With a clear
road it went easily fifteen miles an hour"
The wagon remained in New-York for a short
time after its the streets had been for
hidden, and then the inventor sent it to his
,,untry home at Peacocks Point, Long Island,
Aear Glen Cove where il is now. 1t made many
trips on the country roads, TO the edncation
Of the rusics, but with its Punishment from