Swiss Engineer Rene Thury on His Steam-Powered Three-Wheeler, circa 1880
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Artifact Overview
Inventor, Rene Thury is best known as an electrical engineer during the 1870s through the 1920s. Less well-known is his experiment with powering a three-wheeled carriage using steam. He built this early automobile with assistance from his friend and co-worker, Jean-Jacques Nussberger. In 1879 they drove this car around Lake Geneva in Switzerland, traveling over 100 miles in 5-1/2 hours.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Photographic print
Subject Date
circa 1880
Creators
Place of Creation
Collection Title
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
P.O.17152
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Gelatin silver process
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 5 in
Width: 6.75 in
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Related Content
Set
Auto Pioneers
- 32 Artifacts
Sylvester Roper built steam carriages and motorcycles during the latter half of the nineteenth century. His vehicles were not considered practical but became popular attractions at circuses and fairs. Roper had a heart attack at age 73 while riding one of his steam motorcycles. His death made front-page news in Boston, where he lived and worked.