Stagecoach Odometer, 1879

01

Artifact Overview

This stagecoach odometer, built by San Francisco inventor John Roach in 1879, counted wheel revolutions to register the distance a coach traveled. Stagecoach lines used the information to calculate speed and how much to pay operators. The odometer was secured on the wheel hub and protected by a leather cover.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Odometer

Date Made

1879

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America

Object ID

36.316.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Brass (Alloy)
Leather

Color

Gold (Color)
Brown

Dimensions

Height: 3.25 in
Diameter: 5.375 in

Inscriptions

Inside bottom of cylinder: J.ROACH / S.F. / CAL / 1879 Leather of leather & brass container stamped: J.ROACH / San Francisco