Sylvester H. Roper

What If...

What if Sylvester Roper didn't die of a heart attack on June 1st, 1896? Would the Roper Steam Velocipede be commercialy produced/ be popular without the negative connotations that came with his death?
Roper1896Bike.jpg
Roper-warming.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t93QlgBu4Is
 
It wouldn't be a viable transport until they invented brakes. Waiting for the pressure to build up before driving off could be tiresome as well. I'd wait for the Velocette Venom Clubman to be invented before I'd throw a leg over it.
 
Good grief, what a contraption. That's something I wouldn't ever want in close proximity to my gentleman's area. What kind of pressure did Roper get in that thing?
 
Good grief, what a contraption. That's something I wouldn't ever want in close proximity to my gentleman's area. What kind of pressure did Roper get in that thing?

Yes, having a boiler explosion directly below your crotch could be ... ah ... traumatic. I would definitely incorporate some sort of shielding to deflect any steam and /or debris away from the rider's torso. I cannot imagine that it would do well in a collision with another vehicle, either. (BTW, that's also my take on Segways and the like; they provide almost no protection against environmental hazards.)
 
The Boiler was shielded, the entire outer shell doubles as one. There were safety valves, fusible plugs, and pressure gages on it.
leftb2.jpg
steam11.jpg
Roper2resized.jpg

No boiler explosions were ever reported- even on the previous model, which was fairly popular when it was introduced in 1866.

roper.1.photo.png

>@Cymraeg: It operated at up to 150 pounds of steam pressure.
 
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The Boiler was shielded, the entire outer shell doubles as one. There were safety valves, fusible plugs, and pressure gages on it.
leftb2.jpg
steam11.jpg
Roper2resized.jpg

No boiler explosions were ever reported- even on the previous model, which was fairly popular when it was introduced in 1866.

roper.1.photo.png

>@Cymraeg: It operated at up to 150 pounds of steam pressure.

A double-walled boiler, and only 150 psi; that's pretty safe. Still, in the same class as bicycles and motorcycles; the rider is definitely at risk in an accident.
 
I have to say that previous powered bicycles were inherently more dangerous because they were built off of Penny-farthing style bikes. Although I concede the point that "safety" bicycles at the time were dangerous as well.
 
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