IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM BOUTTELL of Colchester in the County of Essex Mill Manager do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES to
be as follows:-
This Machine is designed to carry "Three persons," each seated over and above a
Driving Wheel on an equestrian saddle, having a direct driving action by means of
a crank motion, thus avoiding the use of chains and other ordinary driving gear.
The three driving wheels which are of uniform size being supported and held firmly
together by means of a simple triangular Frame constructed of light metal, the front
wheel is fitted so as to act as a stearing gear on the exact principle as the head of a
Bicycle leaving the Right & Left behind driving wheels secured to this immovable
triangular frame, thereby forming a Roadster of Three Bicycle's combined together
without the back wheels. It is really three Uncycles combined together, thus
reducing all the unpleasantness of having first to learn the art of balancing and
mounting the Machine.
The Cicyclist when travelling and driving this new pattern Tricycle is in the
position of riding a Bicycle with perfect safety and without the danger of
over balancing (which this simple combined arrangement has defeated) and has thus
brought it to the position of being ridden by the most nervous person, who may
enjoy the pleasures of Bicycling with comfort & safty as well as the healthful and
phisical exercise.
And I further arrange the stride saddle fitted to the stearing wheel can be detached
and a side saddle replaced so that a Lady can take the stearing, without assisting in
propelling this being left to those Right & left behind and I further arrange by
detaching the crank from the stearing wheel you will have a perfect Roadster of
entirely new form or it can be arranged by detaching the saddles over the driving
wheel (right & left) with the driving crank of each wheel you will have then a
perfect Tricycle for any single person thus making a single double or threble
Convertible & combined Machine.
The mode of construction is on a frame of the shape of the letter T and the
simplicity of this invention debars my giving an elaborate or any enlarged
description of what is in so small a compass.
For Hilly Roads-Tourists pleasure seekers, and excursionists, my invention
I feel confident it will be found to meet the requirements so long felt of getting a
Machine where 1 2 or 3 Ameatures can stop or go at pleasure without dismounting.
The name to be given is "The Colchester Safety Tricycle."

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM BOUTTELL of Colchester in the County of Essex Mill Manager do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
The Machine is designed to carry three persons or less number each seated over
and above a driving wheel on an equestrian saddle having a direct driving action by
means of a crank motion thus avoiding the use of chains &c. The wheels are all of
one uniform size and are supported and held firmly together by means of a simple
triangular frame made of light metal, the front wheel is fitted with a steering gear,
so as to act on the exact principle of a Bicycle front wheel, leaving the right and
left wheels, which are secured to the immovable triangular frame, to be propellers
only, thereby forming a Tricycle of three Bicycles combined together without the
usual back wheels, the Machine being really three Uncycles combined together thus
reducing all the unpleasantness of having first to learn the art of balancing and
mounting the Machine.
The Cyclist when travelling and driving this new pattern Tricycle is in the
position of riding a Bicycle without the danger of overbalancing which this simple
combined arrangement has defeated and has thus brought it to the position of being
ridden by the most nervous person who may enjoy the pleasures of Bicycling with
comfort and safety as well as the healthful exercise.
And I further arrange that the saddle fitted to the steering wheel may be
détached and a side saddle fixed so that a lady can take the steering without
propelling or assisting while those behind on the right and left wheels alone propel,
and by detaching the crank from the steering wheel there will be a perfect
Roadster of entirely new form making a single double or treble driving convertible
Machine.
The Machine is like the letter T the base being the front and steering wheel-
The simplicity of my invention debars me giving an elaborate or enlarged
description of what is contained in so small a compass.
For Hilly roads, Tourists, Excursionists and pleasure seekers my invention I feel
confident will be found to meet the requirements so long felt of getting a Machine
which one, two or three amatures can work with so much pleasure and ease.
The name of this machino is "The Colchester Safety Tricycle for three riders."
Having now particularly described- and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is..
1 The triangular frame which is the essence of the Invention and which supports
and holds the three wheels together.
2. The Principle of the Machine, i.e, that there are only three wheels each being
a driving wheel propelling on the Bicycle principle and cach wheel capable of being
ridden.
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