A Novel Machine.

Evening Star, Issue 7247, 25 June 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Novel Machine.

Considerable astonishment was recently caused by the appearance in the streets of London of a strange-looking vehicle speeding swiftly along, propelled by ten riders, who sat all in a row, like the crew of an elongated university rowing boat. This novelty in means of locomotion was on its way to Aldershot, where, by authority of the War Office, it will be severely tested, with a view to its adoption for military operations. It is Messrs Singer and Co.’s latest adaptation of their “ Victoria,” or “ Four-in-hand” quadricycle, and it is intended for the rapid transport of infantry from one point to another. When fully manned it carries twelve men, who can take with them, if ordered, a light baggage cart or ammunition waggon. The advantages of mounting men thus in single file instead of two or four abreast are, first of all, that the machine is more manageable, and, second, that power for power it presents less surface to a strong head wind, one of the obstacles most difficult for cyclists to overcome. The speed that can be got out of such a machine by ten or twelve moderate riders is quite surprising. Ton miles an hour would be considered a low average rate, and sixteen have been easily accomplished. It is said to be affected less than any other velocipede by any roughness in the thoroughfares, and it passes over newlymetalled bits of road with comparative ease. All the tires are wired on the Otto principle, so that they cannot be greatly damaged by cuts from sharp stones. For men mounted thus there is, of course, a considerable saving in labor, and probably other advantages might be claimed from a military point of view. These, however, are points that will be fully tested at Aldershot. The whole control and steering of the machine is in the hands of one man. The “crew ”in charge of this multicycle are trained volunteers, who will be able to execute any military evolution that may be demanded of them with intelligence, and altogether the experiment is one in which military men take a lively interest.—* Daily News.’