A SAFETY TANDEM BICYCLE
Year: 1885

page_text: JOHN HOWES, and GEORGE NEVILLE HOWES 13 Regent Street Cambridge
Bicycle Agents and Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for A SAFETY TANDEM BICYCLE to be as follows: —
The combination of two small wheels, and frame, each wheel to be geared to a
convenient height by means of cogs and chains, and to be operated upon by means
of cranks and pedals. A rigid tubular frame supporting two saddles and
connecting the two wheels together by means of a socket or centre on the upper
part of the front-fork each operator to have control of guiding and balancing by
means of extensions from this fork within the reach of both of thein.

page_text: We JOHN HOWES and GEORGE NEVILLE HOWES both of 13 Regent Street
Cambridge in the County of Cambridgeshire Bicycle Agents and Manufacturers
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention relates to a bicycle for carrying two riders, and consists of the
combination of two small driving wheels, and a frame; each wheel is geared to a
convenient height by means of chain wheels and chains, and is operated upon by
the rider through suitable cranks and pedals. A rigid tubular frame supports two
saddles and connects the two wheels together by means of a socket, or head, on
the upper part of the fork carrying the front wheel. Each rider has control of the
guiding and balancing by means of suitable handle bars, which are connected
rigidly to the fork carrying the front wheel, which is the only one used for steering
or guiding the machine.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we will more particularly
describe it with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which similar parts are
marked with like letters of reference throughout the views.
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of our improved tandem bicycle showing one
arrangement for bringing the control of the steering wheel under the command of
both riders and Fig. 2. is a side elevation of a machine with an alternative
arrangement.
'
Referring to Fig. 1. it will be seen that the driving wheel A is mounted in a
vertical fork B and is driven from a pair of lower pedal crank axles fitted with
chain wheels, cranks, and pedals, all of the usual kind. The rear driving wheel A¹
is mounted in a suitable part of the main frame C of the machine, and is provided
with suitable driving gear like the front wheel. The seats D and D¹ for the riders
are both mounted on the main frame C of the machine, and are provided with
springs of any suitable and convenient shape. A handle bar E of the usual type,
and provided with suitable handles, is fixed to the head at the top of the fork B so
that the wheel A may be under the control of the front rider. The handle bar E¹
for the rear rider is mounted on a light tubular frame E' fixed rigidly to the
fork B, so that the rear rider also has control of the front or steering wheel. The
frame E consists of a pair of flattened tubes rivetted or otherwise fixed to the top
of the fork B. These tubes are carried rearwards following the curve of the front
wheel, and at a suitable distance from the fork they are carried upwards to carry
the handle bar E¹, and at the same time are curved outwards to clear the backbone
to permit the oscillation of the front wheel while steering the machine.
In the alternative arrangement shown by Fig. 2. the handle bar E¹ for the rear
rider consists of a pair of tubes fixed to the ends of the bar E, and curved outwards
as they are carried rearwards to clear the body of the front rider during the
oscillation of the front wheel while steering the machine. The free ends of the
tubes are bent outwards and are provided with suitable handles,
T

page_text: We are aware that tandem bicycles have already been made in which the front
wheel only is used for the purpose of steering but in these machines the steering
is only under the control of one of the riders and we are also aware that tandem
bicycles have been made in which both wheels have been used for steering, and
further that in some of these latter machines both wheels have been connected, or
coupled together, so as to produce a unity of action on the part of the riders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :
First In a tandem bicycle having two driving wheels, one only of which is
used for the purpose of steering, the arrangement hereinbefore described and shown,
or any mere modification thereof, for placing the steering wheel under the control
of both riders.
Second: In a tandem bicycle having two driving wheels, the front one of
which is the steering wheel, the combination of the handle bars E and E', both
rigidly connected to the fork B, as, and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 13th day of April 1886.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Agent for the Applicants.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Agent for the Applicants.