Kangaroo Bicycle, 1885
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Artifact Overview
Cyclists in the early 1880s experienced a safer and faster ride on a British-made "Kangaroo." Its small 36-inch front wheel (compared to wheels over 50 inches on traditional bicycles) made the bicycle easier to mount -- and safer if the cyclist fell. Also, the innovative chain drive made the bicycle fast. A cyclist pedaling a "Kangaroo" traveled 100 miles in a little over seven hours -- a record in 1884.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Bicycle
Date Made
1885
Creators
Place of Creation
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
31.612.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Metal
Chromium
Rubber (Material)
Leather
Wood (Plant material)
Color
Black (Color)
Light reddish brown
Dimensions
Height: 48 in
Width: 27 in
Length: 60 in
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Related Content
SetBicycles
- 25 Artifacts
Charles Metz of Waltham, Massachusetts, built the Orient Oriten in 1896 as a way to promote his Orient line of bicycles. Metz featured this 23-foot-long, 305-pound ten-seater at bicycle meets and races throughout the country. Though difficult to ride, the vehicle could reach speeds of 45 miles per hour. The Henry Ford owns the only surviving Oriten.