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Lucius Copeland

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Lucius Day Copeland
Lucius Copeland 1894
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Engineer and inventor

Lucius Day Copeland was a pioneering 19th-century engineer and inventor from Phoenix, Arizona who demonstrated one of the first motorcycles, a steam-powered "Star" penny-farthing high-wheeled bicycle at the first Maricopa County Fair in 1884.[1] 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]

Development of the Copeland 'Moto-Cycle'

In 1881 Copeland designed an efficient small steam boiler which could drive the large rear wheel of a Penny-farthing (big wheel at the front and small wheel at the back) "Star" cycle at 12 mph (19 km/h). The "Star" was able to cover a mile in four minutes and carry enough water to operate for an hour. Copeland demonstrated the Star at the Smithsonian Institution in New York and PT Barnum's Circus before setting up the Northrop Manufacturing Co. in 1887 in Camden, New Jersey to produce the first successful 'Moto-Cycle' (actually a three wheeler, called the "Phaeton" so possibly the first car).[4] The steam-powered engine produced 4 horsepower[5] at 2600 rpm with a 100 pounds (45 kg) boiler around the steering column with the water heated by kerosene. A simple leather belt drove the large rear wheel, yielding a top speed of around 15 miles per hour (24 km/h).[6] Copeland had produed 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).[7] 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]

Surviving replicas

1884 Copeland Steam Cycle (replica)

Peter Gagan, a former president of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, was able to trace an 1884 "Star" bicycle with the original engine to the Phoenix Museum of History. Although he wasn't allowed to use the original engine, Gagan was able to take sufficiently detailed measurements to create a full-scale, working replica. Although the replica was not completed, it was hurriedly assembled to feature at the Guggenheim's Art of the Motorcycle Exhibition when it opened in Las Vegas in October 2001.[8] This finished replica of the original Copeland "Star" is now the oldest operating motorcycle in the world.[1] This has inspired the Phoenix Museum of History to build a second Copeland replica, though it is not intended to be a working model.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Gagan, Peter. "Earliest Steam Cycles". stanleysteamers.com. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b Barnard, Murray (1996). "The Copeland Steamer". ozebook.com. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  3. ^ a b Payne, Elvis (2010). "Copeland". 3wheelers.com. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  4. ^ Burgess Wise, David. Historic Motor Cycles. Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited. ISBN 0 600 34407 X.
  5. ^ "Antique Motorcycles: Early Steam-Cycle History". KHI Inc. 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Copeland Steam Motorcycle". patentpendingblogs. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  7. ^ Schindler, Gordon (June 2002). The Age of Steam. Retrieved 23 September 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. ^ a b "A Second Copeland Replica". motohistory.net. 17 January 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2010.

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