114 



BULLETIl^ 119, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The frame is of wrought iron, the wheels of wood with iron tires, 

 the front wheel being 36 inches in diameter and the rear wheel 30 

 inches. It is propelled by brass pedals fitted to slotted cranks on the 

 front wheel, the rider sitting on a saddle mounted on a horizontal 

 strap iron spring, supported over the front wheel by the socket head 

 and over the rear wheel by curved iron struts extending vertically 

 from the wheel bearings. The machine is steered by a straight line 

 handle bar at the top of the wheel fork. The slotted crank arms 

 permit leverages from 5f to 9^ inches. The pedals revolve freely on 



FIG. 56. VELOCIPEDE, 1870. 



the crank axle, but are held in the correct position by brass weights 

 on their lower side, which weights are an integral part of the pedal 



casting. 



Cat. No. 180,456 U.S.N.M. 



Velocipede, 1867. Gift of William Stiirgis Bigelow, 1907. 



This machine is very similar to the preceding one except that the 

 strap iron spring of the " backbone " inclines to the rear. In addition, 

 the machine is equipped with a brake on the rear wheel applied by a 

 cord, which can be tightened by twisting the handle bar ; also, foot 

 rests are provided on an extension of the "backbone" beyond the 

 handle bar. 



Although the saddle position is adjustable, the rider sat so far be- 

 hind his work that the power was badly applied and hills or rough 

 roads were difficult to travel on. Cat. No. 247,884 U.S.N.M. 



