JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
SO–this is either a very large tricycle with average-sized crew, or an average-sized trike operated by tiny people. Since it appeared in the November 11, 1896 issue of Scientific American–which had a very very slight leverage on humor–I report here that this was indeed a very large tricycle. As a matter of fact it required a crew of eight to operate, and weighed in at about 1500 pounds. It was actually constructed, as this crew peddled it around the Boston area for a 125-mile jaunt. Why this was done–other for the sake of doing it–I do not know. It seems someone just made a Big Thing, coming (as the short description in the issue says) “in this age of ‘big things’ “.
