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- Sylvester H. Roper, Inventor, circa 1890 - Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper built several steam-powered carriages and motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared. Roper never produced his vehicles commercially. Instead, they were exhibited at circuses and fairs, where crowds marveled at the self-propelled contraptions. Steamboats and steam locomotives were common, but steam-powered carriages were genuine novelties.
- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Sylvester H. Roper, Inventor, circa 1890
Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper built several steam-powered carriages and motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared. Roper never produced his vehicles commercially. Instead, they were exhibited at circuses and fairs, where crowds marveled at the self-propelled contraptions. Steamboats and steam locomotives were common, but steam-powered carriages were genuine novelties.
- William Wallace Austin Standing with the 1865 Roper Steam Carriage, 1905 - Sylvester Roper built several self-propelled, steam-powered vehicles from about 1863 to 1895. One of his machines, made in 1865, was sold to William Wallace Austin of Lowell, Massachusetts. Austin's steam carriage was in the possession of a Lowell car dealer when it came to Henry Ford's attention in 1930. Ford acquired the vehicle for his museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
- 1905
- Collections - Artifact
William Wallace Austin Standing with the 1865 Roper Steam Carriage, 1905
Sylvester Roper built several self-propelled, steam-powered vehicles from about 1863 to 1895. One of his machines, made in 1865, was sold to William Wallace Austin of Lowell, Massachusetts. Austin's steam carriage was in the possession of a Lowell car dealer when it came to Henry Ford's attention in 1930. Ford acquired the vehicle for his museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
- Sylvester H. Roper in a Speed Boat, circa 1885 - Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper built several steam-powered carriages and motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared. Roper never produced his vehicles commercially. Instead, they were exhibited at circuses and fairs, where crowds marveled at the self-propelled contraptions. Steamboats and steam locomotives were common, but steam-powered carriages were genuine novelties.
- circa 1885
- Collections - Artifact
Sylvester H. Roper in a Speed Boat, circa 1885
Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper built several steam-powered carriages and motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared. Roper never produced his vehicles commercially. Instead, they were exhibited at circuses and fairs, where crowds marveled at the self-propelled contraptions. Steamboats and steam locomotives were common, but steam-powered carriages were genuine novelties.
- William Wallace Austin, circa 1895 - Sylvester Roper built several self-propelled, steam-powered vehicles from about 1863 to 1895. One of his machines, made in 1865, was sold to William Wallace Austin of Lowell, Massachusetts. Austin's steam carriage was in the possession of a Lowell car dealer when it came to Henry Ford's attention in 1930. Ford acquired the vehicle for his museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
- circa 1895
- Collections - Artifact
William Wallace Austin, circa 1895
Sylvester Roper built several self-propelled, steam-powered vehicles from about 1863 to 1895. One of his machines, made in 1865, was sold to William Wallace Austin of Lowell, Massachusetts. Austin's steam carriage was in the possession of a Lowell car dealer when it came to Henry Ford's attention in 1930. Ford acquired the vehicle for his museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
- Boston Daily Globe Obituary for Inventor Sylvester H. Roper, June 2, 1896 - 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.
- June 02, 1896
- Collections - Artifact
Boston Daily Globe Obituary for Inventor Sylvester H. Roper, June 2, 1896
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.