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- De Dion-Bouton Motor Tricycle, circa 1898 - French builders Albert Comte De Dion and Georges Bouton produced their first gasoline tricycles in 1895. Their three-wheel design provided more room for mounting the engine, and it eliminated the risk of "highsider" accidents -- in which a motorcycle loses traction and skids, then suddenly regains traction, throwing the rider from the bike. De Dion-Bouton's successful design was widely copied.
- 1898
- Collections - Artifact
De Dion-Bouton Motor Tricycle, circa 1898
French builders Albert Comte De Dion and Georges Bouton produced their first gasoline tricycles in 1895. Their three-wheel design provided more room for mounting the engine, and it eliminated the risk of "highsider" accidents -- in which a motorcycle loses traction and skids, then suddenly regains traction, throwing the rider from the bike. De Dion-Bouton's successful design was widely copied.
- M. M. M. Slattery's Electric Tricycle, circa 1910 - Marmaduke Slattery, chief electrician at the Fort Wayne Jenney Electric Light Company, had this electric tricycle built in 1889. Slattery powered his tricycle with storage batteries--probably of his own design--which reportedly could run for nine hours. Slattery died in 1892 but the vehicle must have remained in the Indiana city--this image was taken around 1910 by a Fort Wayne photographer.
- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
M. M. M. Slattery's Electric Tricycle, circa 1910
Marmaduke Slattery, chief electrician at the Fort Wayne Jenney Electric Light Company, had this electric tricycle built in 1889. Slattery powered his tricycle with storage batteries--probably of his own design--which reportedly could run for nine hours. Slattery died in 1892 but the vehicle must have remained in the Indiana city--this image was taken around 1910 by a Fort Wayne photographer.
- Boy Riding a Tricycle, circa 1940 - Small children who could not balance on two wheels could always pedal on three. A tricycle was the first step for many twentieth-century kids before they graduated to the two-wheeler (sometimes with help from a set of training wheels).
- circa 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Boy Riding a Tricycle, circa 1940
Small children who could not balance on two wheels could always pedal on three. A tricycle was the first step for many twentieth-century kids before they graduated to the two-wheeler (sometimes with help from a set of training wheels).
- Man Seated on a Rowing Tricycle, circa 1885 - An unidentified cyclist from the mid-1880s poses on a rowing tricycle. Instead of pedaling, the cyclist propelled this velocipede by an intricate system of pulleys and cables -- a mechanism similar to a rowing machine. Oarsmen, who competed in professional, amateur, or collegiate rowing contests, were among the early users of this interesting bicycle adaptation.
- circa 1885
- Collections - Artifact
Man Seated on a Rowing Tricycle, circa 1885
An unidentified cyclist from the mid-1880s poses on a rowing tricycle. Instead of pedaling, the cyclist propelled this velocipede by an intricate system of pulleys and cables -- a mechanism similar to a rowing machine. Oarsmen, who competed in professional, amateur, or collegiate rowing contests, were among the early users of this interesting bicycle adaptation.
- Rudge Rotary Tricycle, circa 1885 - This chain-driven tricycle, made by Rudge Cycle Company in 1885, offered health and recreation options to those unable to mount high-wheel ordinaries. Tricycles provided an accessible seat and the stability of three wheels. And for many Victorian women, tricycles allowed them the chance to pedal down the street in dresses rather than in unconventional clothing like bloomers.
- circa 1885
- Collections - Artifact
Rudge Rotary Tricycle, circa 1885
This chain-driven tricycle, made by Rudge Cycle Company in 1885, offered health and recreation options to those unable to mount high-wheel ordinaries. Tricycles provided an accessible seat and the stability of three wheels. And for many Victorian women, tricycles allowed them the chance to pedal down the street in dresses rather than in unconventional clothing like bloomers.
- Leon Bollee and a Woman on a Tandem Tricycle, circa 1900 - Leon Bollee (1870-1913) created his first invention -- an adding machine to assist at his father's bell foundry in Le Mans, France -- in 1887. He formed Leon Bollee Automobiles in 1895. Later, Bollee supported Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights at Le Mans in 1908. This image is from a collection of Bollee's photographs.
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Leon Bollee and a Woman on a Tandem Tricycle, circa 1900
Leon Bollee (1870-1913) created his first invention -- an adding machine to assist at his father's bell foundry in Le Mans, France -- in 1887. He formed Leon Bollee Automobiles in 1895. Later, Bollee supported Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights at Le Mans in 1908. This image is from a collection of Bollee's photographs.
- First Overman Lever Tricycle, 1881 -
- 1881
- Collections - Artifact
First Overman Lever Tricycle, 1881
- Tricycle, Used by Kevin Degen - Kevin Degen raised hundreds of thousands of dollars cycling for charitable causes. Degen was born with cerebral palsy and rode using only his left leg and left arm. Toyota engineers designed this tricycle for him. The seat is offset to accommodate Degen's off-center riding posture, and the shift and brake controls are all on the left handlebar.
- 2007-2008
- Collections - Artifact
Tricycle, Used by Kevin Degen
Kevin Degen raised hundreds of thousands of dollars cycling for charitable causes. Degen was born with cerebral palsy and rode using only his left leg and left arm. Toyota engineers designed this tricycle for him. The seat is offset to accommodate Degen's off-center riding posture, and the shift and brake controls are all on the left handlebar.
- Young Man on Tricycle, Wearing League of American Wheelmen Cap, circa 1885 - The high-wheeled ordinary, where a cyclist sat atop a large front wheel, was difficult to mount and could prove dangerous if the rider tumbled over the handlebars from his lofty perch. A safer option was the tricycle. Men and women could tour town and countryside easily without fear of serious injury. Athletic-minded cyclists also began racing tricycles in sanctioned competitions.
- circa 1885
- Collections - Artifact
Young Man on Tricycle, Wearing League of American Wheelmen Cap, circa 1885
The high-wheeled ordinary, where a cyclist sat atop a large front wheel, was difficult to mount and could prove dangerous if the rider tumbled over the handlebars from his lofty perch. A safer option was the tricycle. Men and women could tour town and countryside easily without fear of serious injury. Athletic-minded cyclists also began racing tricycles in sanctioned competitions.
- Child's Velocipede Tricycle, 1880-1890 - A number of three-wheeled vehicles designed specifically for children were introduced during the last decades of the 19th century. This version, with its large front wheel with attached pedals and two smaller rear wheels, was called a velocipede. By the mid-20th century, all three-wheeled children's vehicles came to be known as tricycles.
- 1880-1890
- Collections - Artifact
Child's Velocipede Tricycle, 1880-1890
A number of three-wheeled vehicles designed specifically for children were introduced during the last decades of the 19th century. This version, with its large front wheel with attached pedals and two smaller rear wheels, was called a velocipede. By the mid-20th century, all three-wheeled children's vehicles came to be known as tricycles.