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- Driving a Roper Steam Carriage, circa 1863 - 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 1863
- Collections - Artifact
Driving a Roper Steam Carriage, circa 1863
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.
- Advertisement for the Sylvester Roper Steam Car, from the Grand Rapids Eagle, September 8-9, 1864 - 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.
- 1864
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement for the Sylvester Roper Steam Car, from the Grand Rapids Eagle, September 8-9, 1864
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.
- Improvement in Hot-Air Engines, S. H. Roper, Specification Forming Part of Letters Patent No. 55,428, June 5, 1866 - Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper patented improvements to a hot air engine that produced motion by harnessing the expansion and contraction of warming and cooling air. This patent covers one of those improvements. Roper also built at least seven steam-powered carriages and two steam-powered motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared.
- June 05, 1866
- Collections - Artifact
Improvement in Hot-Air Engines, S. H. Roper, Specification Forming Part of Letters Patent No. 55,428, June 5, 1866
Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper patented improvements to a hot air engine that produced motion by harnessing the expansion and contraction of warming and cooling air. This patent covers one of those improvements. Roper also built at least seven steam-powered carriages and two steam-powered motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared.
- Improvement in Hot-Air Engines, S. H. Roper, Specification Forming Part of Letters Patent No. 34,723, March 18, 1862 - Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper patented improvements to a hot air engine that produced motion by harnessing the expansion and contraction of warming and cooling air. This patent covers one of those improvements. Roper also built at least seven steam-powered carriages and two steam-powered motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared.
- March 18, 1862
- Collections - Artifact
Improvement in Hot-Air Engines, S. H. Roper, Specification Forming Part of Letters Patent No. 34,723, March 18, 1862
Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper patented improvements to a hot air engine that produced motion by harnessing the expansion and contraction of warming and cooling air. This patent covers one of those improvements. Roper also built at least seven steam-powered carriages and two steam-powered motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared.
- Sylvester Roper with Steam Carriage - 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.
- 1865
- Collections - Artifact
Sylvester Roper with Steam Carriage
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.
- 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.
- Scientific American, Bound Volume for July-December 1864, Vol. 11 - Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper patented a hot air engine that produced motion by harnessing the expansion and contraction of warming and cooling air. The December 3, 1864, issue of <em>Scientific American</em> described his engine. Roper also built at least seven steam-powered carriages and two steam-powered motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared.
- 02 July 1864 - 24 December 1864
- Collections - Artifact
Scientific American, Bound Volume for July-December 1864, Vol. 11
Massachusetts machinist Sylvester Roper patented a hot air engine that produced motion by harnessing the expansion and contraction of warming and cooling air. The December 3, 1864, issue of Scientific American described his engine. Roper also built at least seven steam-powered carriages and two steam-powered motorcycles years before automobiles -- as we know them -- appeared.
- Handbill Advertising the Steam Buggy and the Steam Velocipede built by Sylvester Roper, 1864 - 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.
- Collections - Artifact
Handbill Advertising the Steam Buggy and the Steam Velocipede built by Sylvester Roper, 1864
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.
- 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.
- 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.