Lucius Copeland
Encyclopedia
Lucius Day Copeland was a pioneering 19th-century engineer
and inventor
from Phoenix, Arizona
who demonstrated one of the first motorcycle
s, a steam-powered
"Star" penny-farthing
high-wheeled bicycle at the first Maricopa County Fair in 1884. Copeland also invented the first successfully mass-produced three-wheeled car. About 200 of his "Phaeton steamers" were produced before he retired in 1891.
to produce the a three wheeled version, the "Phaeton Moto-Cycle", which he demonstrated at the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington D.C in 1888. The steam-powered engine produced 4 horsepower at 2600 rpm with a 100 lbs 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 (24.1 km/h). Copeland had produced the first successful steam tricycle, with a range of 30 miles (48.3 km) and taking only 5 minutes to build up enough steam to average 10 miles per hour (16.1 km/h). Accompanied by another director of Northrop Manufacturing, Copeland successfully completed a return trip to Atlantic City of 120 miles (193.1 km) in one of his three-wheeled "Phaeton steamers". About 200 were produced before Copeland decided that he wasn't making enough money and retired in 1891.
, 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. This finished replica of the original Copeland "Star" is now the oldest motorcycle design in operable condition in the world. This has inspired the Phoenix Museum of History to build a second Copeland replica, though it is not intended to be a working model.
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and inventor
Invention
An invention is a novel composition, device, or process. An invention may be derived from a pre-existing model or idea, or it could be independently conceived, in which case it may be a radical breakthrough. In addition, there is cultural invention, which is an innovative set of useful social...
from Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
who demonstrated one of the first motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s, a steam-powered
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
"Star" penny-farthing
Penny-farthing
Penny-farthing, high wheel, high wheeler, and ordinary are all terms used to describe a type of bicycle with a large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel that was popular after the boneshaker, until the development of the safety bicycle, in the 1880s...
high-wheeled bicycle at the first Maricopa County Fair in 1884. Copeland also invented the first successfully mass-produced three-wheeled car. About 200 of his "Phaeton steamers" were produced before he retired in 1891.
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, having a big wheel at the front and small wheel at the back, Star cycle at 12 miles per hour (5.4 m/s). The "Star" was able to cover a mile in four minutes and carry enough water to operate for an hour. Copeland set up the Northrop Manufacturing Co. in 1887 in Camden, New JerseyCamden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
to produce the a three wheeled version, the "Phaeton Moto-Cycle", which he demonstrated at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington D.C in 1888. The steam-powered engine produced 4 horsepower at 2600 rpm with a 100 lbs boiler around the steering column with the water heated by kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
. A simple leather belt drove the large rear wheel, yielding a top speed of around 15 miles per hour (24.1 km/h). Copeland had produced the first successful steam tricycle, with a range of 30 miles (48.3 km) and taking only 5 minutes to build up enough steam to average 10 miles per hour (16.1 km/h). Accompanied by another director of Northrop Manufacturing, Copeland successfully completed a return trip to Atlantic City of 120 miles (193.1 km) in one of his three-wheeled "Phaeton steamers". About 200 were produced before Copeland decided that he wasn't making enough money and retired in 1891.
Surviving replicas
Peter Gagan, a former president of the Antique Motorcycle Club of AmericaAntique Motorcycle Club of America
The Antique Motorcycle Club of America was founded in 1954 in New England and is now one of the largest organizations of antique motorcycle enthusiasts in the world, with membership of over 11,000 in the United States, Canada and Europe.-Aims:...
, 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
The Art of the Motorcycle
The Art of the Motorcycle was an exhibition that presented 114 motorcycles chosen for their historic importance or design excellence in a display designed by Frank Gehry in the curved rotunda of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, running for three months...
when it opened in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
in October 2001. This finished replica of the original Copeland "Star" is now the oldest motorcycle design in operable condition in the world. This has inspired the Phoenix Museum of History to build a second Copeland replica, though it is not intended to be a working model.
