Rickett (car)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Rickett from Buckingham
, England, made a steam powered car in 1860. Several examples made and it was also advertised.
Rickett was manager of the Castle Foundry in Buckingham, makers of agricultural implements, who in 1857 also started to make steam engines. In 1858 he combined the two to make a steam plough. This inspired the Marquess of Stafford to order a steam carriage. This vehicle had three wheels, the single wheel at the front, and a rear mounted coal fired boiler and two cylinder engine. The boiler pressure was 110 psi and the cylinders had a bore of 76 mm and stroke of 178 mm. Transmission was by chain to the right hand rear wheel. A maximum speed of 19 mph was claimed. A boilerman was seated at the rear and three passengers could sit side by side at the front with the one on the right operating tiller steering and the regulator, reversing lever and brake. The wheels had iron "tyres" with the brakes operating on the rear wheels.
In 1860 a second example was ordered by the Earl of Caithness
but this time the wheels were driven through a two speed gearbox and spur gears
. The Earl used the car to drive 146 miles from Inverness
to Barrogill Castle
, 20 miles north of Wick
in Scotland. accompanied by his wife with Thomas Rickett acting as engine man.
Encouraged by his success Rickett placed an advertisement in The Engineer
magazine advertising his carriages for sale at £180 to £200. He was however ahead of his time and it is not thought that any more were sold.
Buckingham
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
, England, made a steam powered car in 1860. Several examples made and it was also advertised.
Rickett was manager of the Castle Foundry in Buckingham, makers of agricultural implements, who in 1857 also started to make steam engines. In 1858 he combined the two to make a steam plough. This inspired the Marquess of Stafford to order a steam carriage. This vehicle had three wheels, the single wheel at the front, and a rear mounted coal fired boiler and two cylinder engine. The boiler pressure was 110 psi and the cylinders had a bore of 76 mm and stroke of 178 mm. Transmission was by chain to the right hand rear wheel. A maximum speed of 19 mph was claimed. A boilerman was seated at the rear and three passengers could sit side by side at the front with the one on the right operating tiller steering and the regulator, reversing lever and brake. The wheels had iron "tyres" with the brakes operating on the rear wheels.
In 1860 a second example was ordered by the Earl of Caithness
Earl of Caithness
Earl of Caithness is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and has a very complex history. Its first grant, in the modern sense as to have been counted in strict lists of peerages, is now generally held to have taken place in favor of Maol Íosa V, Earl of...
but this time the wheels were driven through a two speed gearbox and spur gears
Gear
A gear is a rotating machine part having cut teeth, or cogs, which mesh with another toothed part in order to transmit torque. Two or more gears working in tandem are called a transmission and can produce a mechanical advantage through a gear ratio and thus may be considered a simple machine....
. The Earl used the car to drive 146 miles from Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
to Barrogill Castle
Castle of Mey
The Castle of Mey is located in Caithness, on the north coast of Scotland, about west of John o' Groats. In fine weather there are views from the castle north to the Orkney Islands.-History:...
, 20 miles north of Wick
Wick, Highland
Wick is an estuary town and a royal burgh in the north of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically, it is one of two burghs within the county of Caithness, of which Wick was the county town. The town straddles the River Wick and extends along both sides of Wick Bay...
in Scotland. accompanied by his wife with Thomas Rickett acting as engine man.
Encouraged by his success Rickett placed an advertisement in The Engineer
The Engineer (magazine)
The Engineer is a London-based fortnightly magazine covering the latest developments and business news in engineering and technology in the UK and internationally...
magazine advertising his carriages for sale at £180 to £200. He was however ahead of his time and it is not thought that any more were sold.