If any of our readers desire the luxury of a ride on a velocipede
without the necessity of taking lessons, or the danger of getting a
fall, they will find “Bradford’s Four-Wheeled Velocipede” ready and
able to afford them the pleasure.
The inventor of this vehicle, Mr. C. K. Bradford, has devoted the
greater part of the last five years to experiments upon the velocipede,
and took out his first patent three years and a half ago. The machine,
as now constructed and improved, obtained its American patent October
13th, 1868. It has since been patented in England, France, and Belgium.
It is made of the best material, and finished like a gentleman’s
trotting wagon. It weighs but sixty-five pounds, and combines in a
high degree both lightness and strength. Any man, woman or child, can
learn to guide it easily with but a few moments practice.
The inventor claims that it is able to maintain a speed of a mile in
three minutes, and that the extraordinary time of a half mile in one
minute and forty-five seconds, has been made upon a country road. It
can be driven by almost any man, at the rate of a mile in four minutes,
on almost any road, without greater exertion than is ordinarily used in
walking. This velocipede, unlike all others, is seen to best advantage
on the street. In Mr. Bradford’s tasteful little curricle, the rider
can sit at ease as carelessly as in a carriage, giving himself up
wholly to the exhilaration of the rapid movement, and the pleasurable
exercise of the muscles, which is just enough to make the machine skim
over the ground, and give an enjoyable sense of power. The increase of
friction, which would naturally result from the additional number of
wheels, is prevented by an application of anti-friction rollers, which
reduce the labor of propelling the machine to a minimum, a requisite of
the highest importance to a person seeking either recreation or utility.
This velocipede has an adjustable seat, which may be placed nearer or
further from the pedal crank, to suit the rider’s length of limb. The
seat is furnished with a high, strong back, which, besides adding
materially to the rider’s comfort, serves him as a _point d’appui_, a
firm base from which he can exert a powerful force in propelling.
The steering device is simple and complete, and is the same principle
upon which one guides the horse. It is guided by the hands, and the
large rear wheels are operated upon by means of a wheel and cord
arrangement, conveniently placed beside the seat. It is claimed that
the machine can be steered almost to a hair’s breadth. It is used by
many city firms for the purpose of carrying messages and parcels, and
can be seen upon Broadway in the thickest part of the travel. It does
not hesitate at curb-stones, and will run over most roads as easily
as any light wagon. It can be ridden up almost any hill without a
fatiguing expenditure of force. It offers excellent advantages for
carrying refreshments and various articles of light baggage, necessary
in a flying trip or excursion.
Though this machine requires more room for its accommodation than the
bicycle, and cannot be stored against any wall; and though it does not
give the peculiar and fascinating kind of exhilaration which balancing
upon the bicycle affords, it will be seen to have many advantages over
the two-wheeled vehicle.
This velocipede is especially adapted to ladies, and allows the rider
to sit as becomingly and gracefully as she would in her carriage or her
parlor chair. The proprietors have a very ingenious device which can
be attached to the machine for ladies, which completely conceals all
points of motion.
The Bradford Brothers have a large manufactory in Newark, N. J. Mr.
J. W. Thorp is their agent, and is rapidly selling State and county
rights. This velocipede is sold at $150.
The Messrs. Bradford also manufacture a smaller size for boys, complete
in every particular, for $75.