Experimental tricycle
Morley
Category
Carriages & other vehicles
Date
1840
Materials
Ash, Iron, Rope
Measurements
1067 mm (Height); 1524 mm (Length); 864 mm (W); 838 mm (Diameter); 521 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Haddiscoe
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1338830
Summary
Experimental tricycle, wrought iron and ash framed. 'Experiment'' painted on seat backrest. One large wheel at the rear and two smaller wheels at the front. Steered by pressing (for right) or lifting (for left) the handle of a rod passing beneath seat, with ropes each side running over sprung pulleys on the rear hub and back to metal bars attached to pivoting front axle. Brake operates by a simple lever applying a pad to rear wheel rim. Single rear wheel, with double width hub, alternating spokes to each side of hub. The pedals are connected by cords to spiral pulleys on the single wheel, these pulleys are connected by ratchets to the hub and are returned by spring-loaded recoil wheels above the pulleys. The pulleys are quite separate from each other so that the pedals could be used independently and by adjusting the length of the drive cords a form of variable speed was achieved. Signed 'Morley Fec Haddiscoe' from Norfolk. In notebook no.5, page 97 (1340945.5) Charles Wade refers to: ' Large Garret item no. 63 Free wheel tricycle c.1839 "The Experiment" Morley of Haddiscoe inv.et fec. he was 'tis said, the rector's son. A very remarkable machine set up to show the action. The frame is part wood and it has wooden wheels. Painted blue and lines ivory. Fr Haddiscoe, Norfolk'. Sketch follows From Snowshill Manor notebook (1340960) page 101: 'Out in the Norfolk Marshes near St Olaves stood the unique tricycle "The Experiment" of about 1839, with free-wheel (Garret 63).' This quote also features in Wade's "Haphazard Notes".
Provenance
CPW item 63 Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Makers and roles
Morley
References
Wade, 1944: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 5 Second Floor, 1944, Page 97 Wade, 1953: Charles Paget Wade, Snowshill Manor in Holesford Hundred Gloucestershire, Notebook 1953, Page 101