THE ROMANCE OF INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 17

THE ROMANCE OF INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

By

i In the year 1818 Baron de Drais, a Frenchman, invented a two-wheeled machine which, when introduced into England, was known as the hobbyhorse. It was not unlike a safety bicycle, but was clumsier and had no pedals. The rider straddled across the saddle and propelled his machine by kicking the ground first on one side and then on the other.

GEORGE E. HOPCROFT.

(Special fob the Otago Witness.)

2 The first real pedal bicycle was not introduced into England, until the early ’sixties. This was the old “ boneshaker,” which had w.ooden wheels with iron tyres, and was heavy and clumsy; necessitating much physical exertion. Nevertheless, they were popular for several years, and many riders carried out long journeys on them.

I.—THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BICYCLE.

3 .‘Z i In about 1870 the high ‘'ordinary” came into fashion, and being fitted with solid rubber -tyres, soon displaced the old “ boneshaker.’’ The sizes of the two wheels differed so greatly that the machines were popularly known as “ penny-farth-ings.” About thist time, too, Starley and others brought out the first i eardriven safety,” and for a time there was great rivalry between the two types.

. . 4 With - the early “safeties” the vibration was terrible, but in 1888 Mr J. B. Dunlop, an Irish gentleman, invented a pneumatic tyre. This was at first ridiculed on account of ita thickness (2in to 2Jin), but it was soon found that the “pneumatics” were faster than the “ solids, ” and Mr Dunlop’s invention may fairly be considered as having revolutionised the bicycle and made it what it is to-day.