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Show Development of Bicycles Traced to 1816 'Celeripede' Joseph B. Niepce, French physicist physi-cist best known as one of the inventors in-ventors of photography, was active in other fields as well. In 1816 he Invented In-vented the "celeripede," or "hobbyhorse" "hobby-horse" two wheels and a crossbar upon which the rider sat while he propelled himself with his feet against the ground. It was the forerunner fore-runner of the modern bicycle. There were a few minor improvements improve-ments during the next two or three years. But the price was high and the machine was not within the reach of ordinary folk; thus it became be-came known as the "dandy horse." It even reached America, but the natural crudities of the device finally ended the craze. The idea of propelling oneself on wheels, however, had taken root. The velocipede, or "boneshaker," was the first crank-driven bicycle, developed in 1865. It was well named. With heavy wooden wheels, thick iron tires and a massive iron backbone, these machines were extremely ex-tremely heavy and they vibrated in a terrifying manner over the rough roads. Then came the tall "ordinary," with front wheels sometimes over five feet in height. But it was not until 1876 a little over 70 years ago when H. J. Lawson invented the first rear-driven bicycle. Then followed many patented improvements improve-ments and in 1877 CoL Albert A. Pope of Boston organized the Pope Manufacturing company, launching . the bicycle-making industry to the United States. Pneumatic rubber tires followed in 1889. Free wheels, which enabled the bicycle to coast, were introduced in 1894. By the turn of the century the tandem, or "bicycle built for two," had become exceedingly popular. pop-ular. The bicycle industry, spurred by invention, zoomed to new heights. Today it is estimated that more than 60,900,000 bicycles are in use throughout the world, 12,000,000 of them in the United States. |