CATALOG OF THE CYCLE COLLECTION 25 



CLARKE GASOLINE TRICYCLE, 1897 



U. S. N. M. No. .3i:U42; (irigiiial; gift of Louis S. Clarko in 1047; iiliotogrnph 

 No. 37887-A ; plate 10. 



In 1897, Loni.s S. Claiko fouiuled (lie Pittsbiirij: Motoi- VohicU' Co., 

 Pittsburgh, Ra., with liiiiiself as president and engineer, and con- 

 structed this experimental motor tricycle. The next year, with the ex- 

 perience thus gained, the company built a 4-wheeled automobile. In 

 1890, the company name was changed to the Autocar Co., which today 

 is one of a small number of surviving pioneer automobile companies. 

 This tricycle is known as the first Autocar. 



The vehicle is a conventional tricycle with a gasoline engine driving 

 the rear wlieels. The frame is built of standard bicycle parts, with 

 special jiarts designed and made by Mr. Clarke. The 1-cyclinder, 

 gasoline engine with mechanically operated exhaust valve and auto- 

 matic intake valve has a gear on its crankshaft extension meshing 

 directly with the ring gear of the dilferential. No gear changes are 

 ])r()vided. A clutch located on the ci'ankshaft extension between the 

 engine and the driving gear, and a band brake on the drum of the 

 clutch, are operated by a single hand level'. 



No throttle is provided, but speed of the engine was vaiied by means 

 of a spark-advance lever. A fuel-How ivgulator is provided on the 

 exhaust-heated, gasoline vaporizer. The main exhaust pipe leads into 

 a small muffler. The gasoline tank is located in the frame beneath the 

 saddle, and the Iiigh-tension coil and batteries are in a box farther for- 

 Avard in the frame. 



Bicycle pedals, with the usual sprockets and chain, enabled the rider 

 to start the engine, or in the event of an emergency to pedal the vehicle. 

 An overruiHiing clutcli is built into this gearing so that the pedals are 

 not driven by the engine while the tricycle is in motion. 



The three wire-spoked, bicycle-type wheels mount 2G-by-2i/>-inch 

 sing]e-tul)e, })neuinatic tires. Mr, Clarke states that the front tire 

 is one of the original three and has never been off the wheel since its 

 installation. The front wheel is supported in a fork and is steered 

 by handle bars. 



The saddle, the handle-bar grips, the spark plug, a spark coil of 

 about 1904, the two rear tires, and a relief pipe and valve on the crank- 

 case of the engine are not original. 



CHILD'S BICYCLE, Ca. 1897 



U. S. N. M. No. 311540; original; gift of .T. Ralph Cline in 1938; photograph 

 No. 38609 C ; plate 20, a. 



This bicycle is thought to be one of the first built for a small child, 

 and was used by the donor in October 1897, at the age of 314 years. 

 The maker is not identified. 



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