FRENCH PATENT.
M. JULIEN. JUNE 30, 1830.
The French patent to M. Julien, date of June 30, 1830, of whose machine a cut will be found on the opposite page, seems to be for a sort of combination of cycle and plough. It is to be inferred that M. Julien proposes to do up his ploughing, and then mount his cycle and off to town for an airing.
Jeering and contemptuous cyclers will be liable to overlook a novel and invaluable feature of this invention relating to security in descending long and dangerous hills. The rider can, by easy manipulation of certain simple and ingenious devices, lower the plough and thereby bring into operation a brake of great power and unquestionable holding-back proclivities. As to the steering, it does not appear, from the drawing, how this may be accomplished, but so fertile a brain cannot have left this necessary adjunct unprovided for.
That the machine can be worked with little exertion is implied by the skilful introduction, on the part of the draughtsman, of the chimney-pot hat which adorns the brow of the supposed agricultural gentleman upon the box, and also by the general appearance of ease and comfort which pervades the entire picture.
Cochrane. English patent. No. 6150. August 10, 1831.
“PROPELLING CARRIAGES AND VESSELS, DRIVING MACHINERY, &c.
“COCHRANE’S SPECIFICATION.
“To all to whom these presents shall come, I, Alexander Cochrane, of Norton Street, Great Portland Street, in the county of Middlesex, Esquire, send greeting.
“And be it remembered, that on the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord 1832, the aforesaid Alexander Cochrane came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
“Inrolled the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.”
This rowing-motion carriage has been invented over again several times since 1831.
Dalzell machine, 1845.
“THE ORIGINAL BICYCLE.
“At the late Stanley Show was exhibited the machine which is now generally conceded to be the original bicycle. We present a cut of the machine reproduced from the Scottish Cyclist, also a representation of the features of the inventor, one Gavin Dalzell, a merchant of Lesmahgon, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Dalzell was born August 29, 1811, and died June 14, 1863. He possessed decided talent for mechanical inventions. From the written testimony of a letter, and the testimony of J. B. Dalzell, son of the inventor and present owner of the machine, it is proved that it was in use previous to 1846, and there are eye-witnesses who recollect the inventor riding his bicycle over the roads of Lanarkshire.
“In construction the Dalzell bicycle is the exact prototype of the now popular rear-driving safety.
“It is constructed chiefly of wood, which, though worm-eaten, is still wonderfully strong, especially in the wheels, these seeming to have stood the ravages of time and rough usage much better than the frame-work. The rear wheel—the driver—is of wood, shod with iron, about forty inches in diameter, and has twelve spokes, each about an inch in diameter. The front wheel is of similar construction, but only of about thirty inches in diameter. From the front wheel hub the fork—straight, and with a rake which some of our modern makers could copy with profit—passes up, and is joined together, through the fore-part of the wooden frame-work. A pair of handles are then attached and bent backward into a V shape to suit the rider, who sits about two feet behind the front-wheel hub. These were commonly termed the ‘reins.’ The main frame is somewhat like that which is now termed the ‘dip’ pattern, the design of which is applied in an extended form to ladies’ safeties.
“A wooden mud-guard rises from this frame, covering about one-fourth of the circumference of the hind wheel; from this to the back forks, which are horizontal, and of wood, vertical flat stays run down, forming a dress-guard after the manner of those on the latest cycling development,—the ladies’ safety. The action thus obtained is not rotary, being a downward and forward thrust with return, the feet describing a small segment of a circle. That the gearing, which constitutes the chief wonder to the critical and historical reader, was actually on the machine while being ridden by Mr. Dalzell, is proved by the receipted accounts of the blacksmith, John Leslie, who made all the iron-work used in its construction.”—“Bi News,” in The Wheel.
E. Landis. Velocipede. No. 29,288. Patented July 24, 1860.
This inventor, a Baltimorean, was probably not aware, at the time, that he was one of the earliest cycle inventors. The cut gives a clear illustration of working parts, the motion being quite like that of horseback riding. This patent might be considered an anticipation of the broad principle of the rear-driver as shown in some later machines.
C. A. Way. Velocipede. No. 71,561. Patented November 26, 1867.
“To all whom it may concern:
“Be it known that I, Charles A. Way, of Charlestown, in the county of Sullivan, and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes.
“This invention consists in a novel arrangement of cranks and short axles with reference to the seat, side rails, and supporting-wheels of a velocipede, whereby the wheels may be operated to propel the apparatus with much greater facility than if the cranks were attached directly thereto.
“The invention further consists in so arranging the cords that work the guiding-caster that they shall cross each other in such manner as to act more directly and consequently more efficiently upon the said caster than as hitherto applied.”
Not apparently made for anybody to ride; “but in other respects a very good” velocipede.
P. Lallement. Velocipede. No. 59,915. Patented November 20, 1866.
“To all whom it may concern:
“Be it known that I, Pierre Lallement, of Paris, France, temporarily residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification.
“My invention consists in the arrangement of two wheels, the one directly in front of the other, combined with a mechanism for driving the wheels, and an arrangement for guiding, which arrangement also enables the rider to balance himself upon the two wheels.
“By this construction of a velocipede, after a little practice, the rider is enabled to drive the same at an incredible velocity with the greatest ease.
“Having, therefore, thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—
“The combination and arrangement of the two wheels A and B, provided with the treadles F and the guiding-arms D, so as to operate substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
“Pierre Lallement.”
This inventor has generally been accredited as being the first to apply cranks to the single-track machine; but priority is now claimed by Dalzell. If this claim be valid, Lallement would have to confine himself to the honor of being the first to apply the feet directly to the cranks, and to being the first patentee.
It is stoutly maintained in Coventry that others had applied cranks, in a manner similar to that described in the foregoing specification, some time prior to the date of this patent; it is fair to say, however, that Lallement was the most energetic in pushing his invention, and that he did as much, if not more, than any other man in the great work which has now assumed such mammoth proportions.
Considering the short time it has taken to firmly establish this new and useful mode of locomotion as a recognized necessity to mankind, there is little need to quarrel over the exact division of the honors; there is enough for all, and all will be in time duly credited with their respective claims.
W. C. Moores. Velocipede. No. 42,678. Patented May 10, 1864.