IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Monteith, of Carstairs House, Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES,”
Scaled the 26th October 1875, and dated the 21st July 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Monteith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st July 1875.
I, JOSEPH MONTEITH, of Carstairs House, Lanark, North Britain, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved arrangement of driving
gear to be applied to velocipedes for the purpose of obtaining speed with
a minimum excrcise of power; and secondly, to the use of an adjustable
seat which will enable tho rider to shift his position nearer to or further
from the axle of the front wheel or wheels.

page_text: In applying the Invention to a bicycle I provide the fork with
brackets which project forward on either side of the running wheel, and
are intended each to carry a stud axle. On these stud axles I mount
loosely a spur wheel which carries on its boss a ratchet wheel, and into
the spur wheels I cause pinions which are fast on the boss of the
running wheel to gear. Mounted loosely on each stud axle is a treadle
lever carrying a pawle that engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
The two treadle levers are connected together above the frame of the
velocipede by a chain or cord which passes over a guide pulley
mounted on the top of the frame. By this arrangement the depression
of one treadle lever to drive through its pawle the gearing on one side
of the frame will ensure the rising of the treadle lover on the opposite
side of the frame to the position for bringing the pawle of that lever
into action.
The treadle levers are so formed as to allow of the coupling chain
being shifted along their length, and thereby regulating the amount
of motion to be given to the treadles.
I would remark that instead of pawles and ratchet wheels equivalent
mechanical devices, such as the nipping devices used for driving the
feed wheels of sowing machines, may be used for converting the recipro-
cating motion of the treadle levers into a rotary motion.
The saddle is made to shift backwards or forwards to suit the con-
venience of the rider by enabling him to be immediately over his work.
One mode of shifting the saddle is by means of a chain which passes
from the front end thereof around a small barrel made fast to the rod
of the steering handles, and down under guide pulleys to the rear of
the saddle to which it is attached. By turning the handles axially the
chain will be caused to shift the saddle endwise in either direction as
desired.
It will be obvious that this endway shifting of the saddle may be
effected by a variety of mechanical devices, as for example, by a
traversing screw and nut, or the saddle may be connected to its support
by short rocking arms which will allow of the saddle being thrown
backwards or forwards as desired, thereby allowing a proper command
over the treadles as they are variously adjusted.
I would remark that the Invention applies not only to bicycles but
also to velocipedes having two front wheels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Monteith in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
MONTEITH, of Carstairs House, Lanark, North Britain, sond greeting.
WHEREAS Пor most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Hor reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Monteith, Her
special licence that I, the said Joseph Monteith, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Monteith, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Monteith, my exccutors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Monteith, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say)
-
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved arrangement of driving
gear to be applied to velocipedes for the purpose of obtaining speed with
a minimum exercise of power; and secondly, to the use of an adjustable
seat or saddle, which will enable the rider to shift his position nearer to
or further from the axle of the front wheel or wheels.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shows in side elevation a
bicycle constructed according to this Invention, and Fig. 2 is a front
clevation of the samo. A is the frame of the bicycle, in the head of
which is fitted the steering fork B as usual, C is the axle of the front
wheel D which works in bearings carried by the fork; B'arc brackets
forming extensions of the fork B, and projecting forward on either side
of the driving wheel D These brackets B¹ cach serve to carry a stud
axle to which are fitted loosely spur wheels E, E. These wheels gear
into pinions F, F, which are fast on the boss or nave of the running
wheel D for the purpose of turning the same, as will be presently
explained. On the hubs of the wheels E are secured ratchet wheels
G, G, to receive the pendent pawles of treadle levers II, II. These
levers are mounted loosely on the stud axles of the brackets B¹, and
they are connected together above the frame of the velocipede by a
chain or cord H³, which passes over a guide pulley II mounted on the
top of the frame. By thus arrangement the depression of one treadlo
lever to drive through its pawle the gearing on one side of the frame
will ensure the rising of the treadle lever on the opposite side of
the frame to the position for bringing the pawle of that lever into
action.
The treadle levors are so formed as to allow of the rider's feet being
shifted along their length, and thereby regulating the amount of motion
to be given to the treadle levers.
I would remark that instead of the arrangement of pawles and
ratchet wheels above described equivalent mechanical devices, such as
the nipping devices used for driving the feed wheels of sewing machines
may be used for converting the reciprocating motion of the treadle levers
into a rotary motion.
The second head of the Invention is best illustrated at Fig. 3, which
is a partial plan view, showing the means for adjusting the position of
the seat or saddle on its supporting spring Fig 4 is a cross section of
the saddle.
The object of shifting the saddle backwards or forwards is to enable
the rider to be immediately over his work whatever may be the position
of the treadles or the feet of the rider on the treadle levers.
In Figures 1, 3, and 4, I is the saddle carried by a bowed spring or
clastic bar K, the extremities of which are secured to the frame A, 'as
.

page_text: shewn in Fig. 1. The saddle is free to slide upon this bar which is
embraced by guides made fast to the under side of the saddle. K¹ is a
guide pulley mounted on a stud carried by the elastic bar K, and around
it is laid a cord or chain L, one end of which is attached to the hinder
end of the saddle. This cord or chain is led forward to a pulley K* on
the head of the frame A and up to and over a pulley M. on the rod N
of the steering handles (sec Fig. 2). The cord or chain thence passes
downwards to a pulley K' and so to the front of the saddle to which it
is made fast. By turning the handles axially the chain will be caused
to shift the saddle endwise in either direction on its clastic support K
as desired.
It will be obvious that this endway shifting of the saddle may be
effected by a variety of mechanical devices, as for example, by a
traversing screw and nut, or the saddle may be connected to its support
by short rocking arms, which will allow of the saddle being thrown
backwards or forwards as desired, thereby allowing a proper command
over the treadles as they are variously adjusted.
I would remark that the Invention applics not only to bicycles
and velocipedes with one steering wheel but also to velocipedes having
two front wheels. In this case it will be necessary to crank the treadlo
levers to enable them to work past the axle of the front wheels.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improve-
ments in the Construction of Velocipedes," and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the
above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First. The means above described for increasing the efficiency of the
treadle levers.
Secondly. The adjustment of the seat or saddle in the manner and for
the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Monteith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twentieth day of January, in the year