1894 Sylvester Hayward (S.H.) Roper Steam Bicycle (Roxbury, Mass.)
- Back in 1894 this was called a “Steam Velocipede” and was based on a Columbia bicycle that had a wheel base of 45.5″. With water and coal this bike weighed 165 lbs. Based on pictures it is very likely he built more than one.
- The single cylinder (1.75″ diameter x 4″ stroke) with D-slide valve was efficiently located inside of the smokestack (on the right side of the rear wheel).
- On the left side of the rear wheel was the water feed pump (1/4″ diameter x 1″ stroke). The water tank was placed at the top of the boiler and absorbed the stack heat. Roper also had a hand pump located near the handlebars.
- The Firetube rectangular boiler burned “Franklin” coal (~11,200 But/lb) and was 20.75″ high x 15.5″ long x 8″ wide. The firetubes are 10.5″ long and 9/16″ OD, wall thickness ~.020″. There is also 1/2″ space around the boiler for a water jacket.
- Working boiler pressure was 160 psi with the ability to raise the steam pressure to 225 psi for hills. It was cold pressure tested to 450 psi.
- Tragically S.H. Roper, 2 years later in 1896, had a heart attack while racing this bike against the Butler brothers tandem at the Charles River Track in Boston. Thus becoming the first motorcycle fatality in US history. The track was a circular 1/3 mile and his first pass was 42 seconds (28.6 mph), followed by 39 seconds (30.8 mph) and finally 37 seconds (32.4 mph).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJbZkSKg3XM
**** There are 3 notable replica’s of Ropers Steam Bicycle 1- Roper 1894 Replica built by Bob Jorgensen (owned by Pete Gagan) in ~2001
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdSx1wtR4cM
2- Roper 1894 Replica built by Paul Brodie for Dick Winger in 2005 using Bob’s replica as a foundation for study.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t93QlgBu4Is
3- Roper 1894 Replica built by Nigel Weber in 2009 (New Zealand)
