Lucius Copeland
Lucius Day Copeland | |
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Lucius Copeland and his steam bicycle, 1884 | |
Residence | New Jersey |
Nationality | United States |
Occupation | Engineer and inventor |
Lucius Day Copeland was a pioneering 19th-century engineer and inventor from Phoenix, Arizona who demonstrated one of the first motorcycles, the Copeland steam bicycle, a steam-powered Star high-wheeler at the first Maricopa County Fair in 1884.[1]
Three-wheeler
Copeland also invented the first successfully mass-produced three-wheeled car. About 200 of his "Phaeton steamers" were produced[2] before he retired in 1891.[3] Copeland had produced the first successful steam tricycle, with a range of 30 miles (48 km) and taking only 5 minutes to build up enough steam to average 10 miles per hour (16 km/h).[4] Accompanied by another director of Northrop Manufacturing, Copeland successfully completed a return trip to Atlantic City of 120 miles (190 km) in one of his three-wheeled "Phaeton steamers". About 200 were produced[2] before Copeland decided that he wasn't making enough money and retired in 1891.[3]
References
- ↑ Gagan, Peter. "Earliest Steam Cycles". stanleysteamers.com. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Barnard, Murray (1996). "The Copeland Steamer". ozebook.com. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Payne, Elvis (2010). "Copeland". 3wheelers.com. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ↑ Schindler, Gordon (June 2002). "The Age of Steam". American Motorcyclist. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
External links
- Picture of Lucius Copeland and his steam bicycle in 1884
- Copeland's 'Steam Tricycle Patent 1887
- Advert for the Phaeton Moto-Cycle 1890
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