Sylvester H. Roper
Encyclopedia
Sylvester H. Roper was an inventor from Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, and a pioneering builder of early automobiles and motorcycles. In 1863 he built a steam carriage, one of the earliest automobiles
. The Roper steam velocipede
of 1867–1869 may have been the first motorcycle, for which he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 2002. He is also the inventor of the shotgun
choke
and a revolver repeating shotgun.
. Merrick came to Francestown, New Hampshire in 1807 and married Sylvester's mother Susan Fairbanks in 1817. Sylvester had an older brother who was a housepainter, two younger sisters, and a younger brother who became a machinist at the Singer Sewing Machine Manufactory
in Boston, then later a jeweler.
Sylvester Roper was born on 24 November, 1823. From an early age he displayed mechanical talent. At age 12 he made a stationary steam engine, even though he had never seen one before in person; this invention was kept on display in the laboratory of the Francestown Academy. At age 14, he built a locomotive engine, and only afterward saw such an engine for the first time in Nashua
. Roper left Francestown at a young age and worked as a machinist, first in Nashua, then in Manchester, New York, and Worcester
. He married Almira D. Hill on 20 April, 1845 in Providence, Massachusetts. In 1854 he moved to Boston.
during the Civil War. Roper's work eventually came to the attention of other inventors and engineers of the area, including Elias Howe
, Alvan Clark
, Christopher Miner Spencer
. Roper was observed driving his steam carriage around Boston in 1863. One such 1863 carriage went to the Henry Ford Museum
.
Roper invented the first shotgun
choke
, short tubes that could be threaded onto, or removed from, the outside of the shotgun barrel to vary the shot spread to suit different targets and ranges. Roper and Christopher Miner Spencer
were granted a joint patent for a repeating shotgun mechanism on 4 April, 1882. Later, on 21 April 1885, Roper alone obtained a patent for an improved shotgun loading mechanism. Roper and his son, Charles, designed a factory producing screw making equipment, which Charles Roper continued to manage after his father's death.
Columbia bicycle with a steam engine added, to the Charles River
bicycle track, near Harvard Bridge
, Cambridge, Massachusetts
where he made several laps, pacing bicyclists there, including professional rider Tom Butler who could not keep up with the steam powered machine. Roper was clocked at 2 minutes 1.4 seconds for the flying mile, for a top speed 40 mph (17.9 m/s) He was seen to wobble and then fall on the track, suffering a head wound, and was found dead. After autopsy, the cause of death was found to be heart failure, although it is unknown if the crash was the cause of the stress on his heart, or if his heart gave out first which led to the crash.
History of steam road vehicles
The history of steam road vehicles describes the development of vehicles powered by a steam engine for use on land and independent of rails; whether for conventional road use, such as the steam car and steam waggon, or for agricultural or heavy haulage work, such as the traction engine.The first...
. The Roper steam velocipede
Roper steam velocipede
The Roper steam velocipede was a steam-powered velocipede built by inventor Sylvester H. Roper of Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, United States sometime from 1867–1869. It is one of three machines which have been called the first motorcycle, along with the Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede,...
of 1867–1869 may have been the first motorcycle, for which he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 2002. He is also the inventor of the shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
choke
Choke (firearms)
In firearms, a choke is a tapered constriction of the gun barrel's bore at the muzzle end, almost always used with shotguns. The purpose is to decrease the spread of the shot in order to gain better range and accuracy....
and a revolver repeating shotgun.
Early life
Sylvester H. Roper's father, Merrick, was a cabinetmaker, born 1792 in Sterling, MassachusettsSterling, Massachusetts
Sterling is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 7,808 at the 2010 census.- History :Sterling was first settled by Europeans in 1720 and was officially incorporated in 1781....
. Merrick came to Francestown, New Hampshire in 1807 and married Sylvester's mother Susan Fairbanks in 1817. Sylvester had an older brother who was a housepainter, two younger sisters, and a younger brother who became a machinist at the Singer Sewing Machine Manufactory
Singer Corporation
Singer Corporation is a manufacturer of sewing machines, first established as I.M. Singer & Co. in 1851 by Isaac Merritt Singer with New York lawyer Edward Clark. Best known for its sewing machines, it was renamed Singer Manufacturing Company in 1865, then The Singer Company in 1963. It is...
in Boston, then later a jeweler.
Sylvester Roper was born on 24 November, 1823. From an early age he displayed mechanical talent. At age 12 he made a stationary steam engine, even though he had never seen one before in person; this invention was kept on display in the laboratory of the Francestown Academy. At age 14, he built a locomotive engine, and only afterward saw such an engine for the first time in Nashua
Nashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
. Roper left Francestown at a young age and worked as a machinist, first in Nashua, then in Manchester, New York, and Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. He married Almira D. Hill on 20 April, 1845 in Providence, Massachusetts. In 1854 he moved to Boston.
Inventor
About the same time he came to Boston, Roper invented his Handstitch Sewing Machine. In 1861 he invented a hot air engine. Roper worked for the Springfield ArmorySpringfield Armory
The Springfield Armory, located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts - from 1777 until its closing in 1968 - was the primary center for the manufacture of U.S. military firearms. After its controversial closing during the Vietnam War, the Springfield Armory was declared Western Massachusetts'...
during the Civil War. Roper's work eventually came to the attention of other inventors and engineers of the area, including Elias Howe
Elias Howe
Elias Howe, Jr. was an American inventor and sewing machine pioneer.-Early life & family:Howe was born on July 9, 1819 to Dr. Elias Howe, Sr. and Polly Howe in Spencer, Massachusetts. Howe spent his childhood and early adult years in Massachusetts where he apprenticed in a textile factory in...
, Alvan Clark
Alvan Clark
Alvan Clark , born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, the descendant of a Cape Cod whaling family of English ancestry, was an American astronomer and telescope maker. He was a portrait painter and engraver , and at the age of 40 became involved in telescope making...
, Christopher Miner Spencer
Christopher Miner Spencer
Christopher Miner Spencer was an American inventor, from Manchester, Connecticut, who invented the Spencer repeating rifle, one of the earliest models of lever-action rifle, a steam powered "horseless carriage", and several other inventions...
. Roper was observed driving his steam carriage around Boston in 1863. One such 1863 carriage went to the Henry Ford Museum
The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark, , in the Metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, USA, is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex...
.
Roper invented the first shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
choke
Choke (firearms)
In firearms, a choke is a tapered constriction of the gun barrel's bore at the muzzle end, almost always used with shotguns. The purpose is to decrease the spread of the shot in order to gain better range and accuracy....
, short tubes that could be threaded onto, or removed from, the outside of the shotgun barrel to vary the shot spread to suit different targets and ranges. Roper and Christopher Miner Spencer
Christopher Miner Spencer
Christopher Miner Spencer was an American inventor, from Manchester, Connecticut, who invented the Spencer repeating rifle, one of the earliest models of lever-action rifle, a steam powered "horseless carriage", and several other inventions...
were granted a joint patent for a repeating shotgun mechanism on 4 April, 1882. Later, on 21 April 1885, Roper alone obtained a patent for an improved shotgun loading mechanism. Roper and his son, Charles, designed a factory producing screw making equipment, which Charles Roper continued to manage after his father's death.
Death while riding
On 1 June 1896, Roper rode one of his later velocipede models, a Pope Manufacturing CompanyPope Manufacturing Company
Pope Manufacturing Company was founded by Albert Augustus Pope in Hartford, Connecticut. The company began with the introduction of the "Columbia High Wheeler" bicycle in 1878.-History:...
Columbia bicycle with a steam engine added, to the Charles River
Charles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
bicycle track, near Harvard Bridge
Harvard Bridge
The Harvard Bridge carries Massachusetts Avenue from Back Bay, Boston to Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the longest bridge over the Charles River....
, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
where he made several laps, pacing bicyclists there, including professional rider Tom Butler who could not keep up with the steam powered machine. Roper was clocked at 2 minutes 1.4 seconds for the flying mile, for a top speed 40 mph (17.9 m/s) He was seen to wobble and then fall on the track, suffering a head wound, and was found dead. After autopsy, the cause of death was found to be heart failure, although it is unknown if the crash was the cause of the stress on his heart, or if his heart gave out first which led to the crash.
List of patents
| Number | Title | Issue date | Co-inventor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padlock | November 9, 1842 | ||
| Improvement in Hot-Air Engines | March 18, 1862 | ||
| Improvement In Revolving Fire-Arms | April 10, 1866 | ||
| Improvements In Detachable Muzzle For Shot-Guns | July 14, 1868 | ||
| Improvement In Knitting-Machine | August 24, 1869 | ||
| Improvement In Knitting-Machines | August 8, 1871 | ||
| Magazine Fire-Arm | April 4, 1882 | Christopher M. Spencer | |
| Metal-Screw Machine | August 8, 1882 | Charles F. Roper | |
| Metal-Screw Machine | June 17, 1884 | Charles F. Roper | |
| Magazine-Gun | August 20, 1889 | ||
| Magazine Fire-Arm | October 29, 1889 | ||
| Fire-Escape | February 6, 1894 | ||
| Fire Escape | March 6, 1894 |