A gentleman of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., has invented and uses an Ice Velocipede, which he propels with astonishing rapidity. The frame of this velocipede is built like those which are commonly used in this city. It has but one wheel, steered with a bar as in the land machine, but armed with sharp points to prevent its slipping. Instead of the wheel behind are two sharp runners, like those attached to the ice boats.
A Steam Velocipede has also been invented, from which great speed is expected. The cylinders and their attachments to the two driving wheels are not shown. They are placed vertically in front of the boiler, between it and the seat, and connect with cranks on the shaft of the driving wheels. The engraving shows the position of the boiler relatively to the other parts of the machine. The engine is a direct acting compound engine of two cylinders, each cylinder two and a half inches diameter, and five inches stroke. The steering gear consists of an endless chain over a grooved wheel on the engine shaft, and passing over a corresponding wheel fixed between the forked shaft just over the front. The latter grooved wheel is a wide one, and over it passes another chain. This latter chain works round the boss of the front wheel. This arrangement gives power to the front wheel, so that in turning a corner, this wheel takes a wider sweep than the two driving wheels, which go first. In travelling on a straight road (backwards) the machine is turned to either side by turning the steering wheel to the opposite side. The boiler is a vertical one, with four tubes, one and a half inches internal diameter, hanging down by the side of the fire-box. The fire-grate is cast with four holes in it to receive the bottom ends of the tubes so as to hold them firmly. Height of boiler, two feet six inches; height of fire-box, fifteen inches; diameter of fire-box, eleven inches; diameter of boiler, fourteen inches. The fire-box and tubes are copper, pressure two hundred pounds; but twenty-five pounds of steam will be equal to a velocipede propelled by the feet.
Philadelphia has recently produced a velocipede of an entirely new style. There are but two wheels, the seat sitting quite low between them. The novelty consists in a cog attached to the guiding-post, by means of which the rear wheel is made to follow directly in the track of the forward wheel. No matter how short the turn, both wheels make it at the same time, and the seat always remains parallel with the driving wheel. In other machines there is no guide to the rear wheel, and consequently the machine cannot be turned so readily when a collision is threatened. The new machine, which is called the “Keystone,” in honor of its native State, is substantially built, and so far as it has been tested in the riding school, is pronounced a success.
There is an ingenious gentleman in Cincinnati, who is at work constructing a velocipede to be propelled by a spring, on the principle of a watch. After winding it up, he calculates that it will move two miles before it will require winding.
A gentleman in Albany has arranged a velocipede to run on railroad tracks. The wheels have flanges to them, so that they cannot leave the rails. The flanges are so arranged as to be removed when occasion requires, so as to make the machine available on ordinary roads. The inventor claims fifty miles an hour.
An expert velocipedestrian in the West, has had rubber tires put upon the wheels of his vehicle; and finds by their use, he can ride in winter over snow and ice without slipping, and that in summer he is much relieved of the jar from roughnesses of roads.