Cugnot Steam Wagon, Built 1770, on Exhibit at the New York Museum of Science and Industry
THF277046 / Cugnot Steam Wagon, Built 1770, on Exhibit at the New York Museum of Science and Industry
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Artifact Overview
French military engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot designed his three-wheeled, steam-powered dray to haul cannons. While it could carry five tons at two miles per hour, Cugnot's unwieldy wagon was difficult to steer, and its inefficient boiler limited the dray's operating time to about 15 minutes. Unimpressed, French officials did not approve Cugnot's steam wagon for military use.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Photographic postcard
Subject Date
1770
Creators
Collection Title
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
92.150.9363
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Family of Henry Austin Clark, Jr.
Material
Card stock
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 3.563 in
Width: 5.563 in
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Related Content
SetSteam Cars
- 11 Artifacts
Steam powered 19th-century America. Some early car manufacturers used this familiar technology to power their vehicles. The White Company was one of the best. Several well-known Americans purchased White steamers and President Taft included one in the first presidential car fleet. White, unlike other manufacturers of steam cars, shifted to gasoline-powered automobiles. It made its last steamer in 1911.