Velocipede

Velocipede was a term French inventor Nicéphore Niépce used to describe his version of the Dandy Horse also known as Laufmaschine (German for Running Machine). The year was 1818. The Dandy horse was built in 1817. Today the term is used to describe most of the early forms of bicycles.


These first Dandy Horses and Velocipedes were moved along with the rider walking on the ground. The effort gave the walker further distance with his steps. The first pedaled bikes were invented nearly 40 years later.

Google books also offers a book about the history of Velocipede This book was printed in 1869

And for some additional info and images check out Wikipedia.

Walking Machine

Baron von Drais invented a walking machine in 1817 to help him get around the garden faster. The device was two in-line wheels of equal size, a steerable front wheel, both wheels were mounted to a frame which you straddled. This device was the beginning of what we now call a Bicycle.

Eventually this Walking machine became known as the Draisienne or hobby horse.

The fad faded in popularity. The Walking Machine was quite heavy and the frame made out of wood.

The next 2 wheeled riding machine was introduced in 1865 and had pedals attached to the front wheel. It was called the Velocipede or Boneshaker.

The high wheel Bicycle we most often think of with regard to the history of the bicycle was introduced in 1870. These bicycles were expansive but enjoyed by young men of means. They cost an average of six month's pay. They were a bit dangerous because they had a tendency to flip the rider over if the bike hit a rock in the road.

By the 1880's the High Wheeled Bicycle was invented. It was a tricycle giving more stability and the rider sat between the two rear wheels. These were more affordable and doctors and clergy would often used them. This invention also brought into use, rack and pinion steering, the differential and band brakes, all of which were used when the automobile was invented.

Taxes

There was no annual Federal Income Tax in the 19th century but the folks of that century still had to pay taxes. Here's a brief sketch of some of the taxes.

1812 because of the cost of the War of 1812 the nation's first income taxes were paid. Gold, silverware, jewelry and watches.
1817 did away with taxes and started to rely on tariffs on imported goods.
1862 Congress enacted the first income tax law
1862 Commissioner of Internal Revenue established.
1868 Congress enacted a tobacco and Spirits tax
1872 Eliminated the Income Tax law
1894-1895 Income tax returned
1895 Supreme Court decided the tax unconstitutional

Soda

Hi all,

You might find this topic a little strange but the fact is that the soda we drink today had it's roots in the 19th century. It was actually at the tail of the previous century when the term "soda water" was coined. (1798)

And the first soda fountain was patented in 1819 by Samuel Fahnestock.

But the idea of adding flavoring to the soda water came from the Ingenuity of Eugene Roussel in Philadelphia in 1830 at his perfume shop. His customers could buy a glass of this soda water and had a choice of orange, cherry, lemon, teaberry, ginger, peach and root beer syrups. He did so well that in no time there were fifty other competitors in the city selling flavored soda water.

By the end of the Civil War soda fountains had become a mainstay. By the end of the century ice cream parlors and soda shops were popping up all over. In New York City by 1900 Soda Shops and Ice Cream Parlors out numbered saloons.

And the number one soda in America, Coke, was invented in 1886 by Dr. John Pemberton.

So for those of you who are writers of historical fiction who are following this blog, when your characters need something different to do, you might have them go out for a soda.