Henry Ford's Quadricycle
In 1896, the founder of Ford Motor Company built his first car and
took it for a spin on the streets of Detroit
...
...
Apart from the motor, wheels, axles and steering tiller, the vehicle
was constructed of wood, and weighed only 500 pounds, without fuel. It
had a buggy-like seat and ran on bicycle-size wheels with pneumatic
tires. Ford's "horseless carriage" had two speeds - 10 and 20 miles
per hour selected by twin drive belts. It had a neutral gear but no
reverse. Gear changes were made by a clutch lever mounted on the floor
to the right of the driver. Final drive was by a single chain. There
were no brakes, but Ford included a doorbell as a horn. During the two
days before his invention was finished, Ford hardly slept at all.
Finally, in the early morning hours of June 4, 1896, the vehicle was
ready.
As Ford prepared for his first ride, he realized the completed
Quadricycle was wider than the garage door. With an axe, he broke out
frame and bricks to widen the opening and rolled the vehicle out into
the alley. With his wife and a helper, Jim Bishop, anxiously watching,
Ford put the clutch in neutral and spun the flywheel. The motor came
to life! Ford drove the Quadricycle slowly along nearby Detroit
streets, with Bishop on a bicycle ahead of him and a few curious
passers-by staring incredulously. A spring actuating one of the
"ignitors" failed during the short run, but it was quickly repaired,
and the two men returned triumphantly to the Ford home, got a few
hours of rest and then reported for work at Edison.
https://corporate.ford.com/articles/history/henry-fords-greatest-innovation-the-quadricycle.html
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