black mamba

This beautiful contraption is an 1899 Orient Autogo Quadricycle. Only 3 of these are known to exist worldwide. The engine is a 2 1/4 HP DE Dion-Bouton. It was made in France and purchased by an American who later became an importer of the Orient cycles and the Dion-Bouton engines to the U.S. A subsequent owner, for unknown reasons, buried it in his yard where it remained for over 50 years. It was in 2005 when that man's son-in-law exhumed it and had it restored to the impeccable condition as you see it now.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Fascinating.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Very cool. It's not clear to me, though: The bicycle is on a trailer being towed by the "Autocycle?" There are actually TWO modes of transportation shown in your photographs?

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

You are right Tom, have never seen anything like it before! Why would someone bury this machine?
Fine shots BTW.

Don

black mamba

I agree, Barbara. " fascinating " is the word.

It'd good to hear from you.

black mamba

Fred, you sharp-eyed devil. I wondered how many folks would look close enough to see that the bike is a separate entity. I look at the bike as being a spare tire. If things go crazy on you, you've at least got some mobility available.

Thanks for commenting.

Tom

black mamba

A reply to Don, above.

Putting yourself in the context of the time, there was a big wave of interest in motorized vehicles....of all sorts. It was still a very young industry. There's always an element of vave buyers for something different and adventuresome. When the interest level in this product nosedived, probably very quickly, it disappeared from the market.

MosheR Loc: New York City

What do you mean "never seen." I have four of them!! Yeah. Right. All I really have to say, Tom, is Wowza!!

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

It's gorgeous, Tom, but the first thought that came to mind was, can you imagine having to clean it:-)

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Another great post Tom. And contraption it is! Just looking at it raises all kinds of questions. My first suspicion is that this vehicle looks a lot better today than it did when it left the factory. It appears that it was intended for two passengers, one in the seat at the front and the second in the bicycle seat behind it with the handle bars. The plaque on the bicycle said that it set a speed record of 40 mph but looking at the gearing, there's no way that bike could be ridden at 40 mph for a whole hour , so the record must be for the front powered vehicle. That must have been a real hoot to stay in that thing, in either seat for an hour at that speed. The contraption looks like it was controlled, both the motor and the steering from the back seat. There's a set of pedals there that may have been used to start the gas engine. And another puzzlement is that the bike being towed has tires with tread but the vehicle doing the towing has bald tires. Must have added to the thrill of going 40 miles an hour on a dirt track.

Again, very interesting contraption. I made this comment on another posting that may apply here. "Everybody has a great idea that won't work" Maybe that's why they buried it.

black mamba

I hope you won't be surprised, Mel, to learn that I speak Wowza very well. In fact you might could say that I'm fluent in Wowza. Isn't there some ancient saying that goes " The more wowza, the better "? Not that I'm obsessed with the word, but I'm thrilled to have finally earned a wowza. A real highpoint for me.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Very cool vehicle!! I can't even imagine what it looked like when he exhumed it. Well worth the time and effort he put into it.

Dodie

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Fantastic images!!!
Very interesting vehicle

mvetrano2 Loc: Commack, NY

Interesting!

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Amazing details, and well taken.
Smile,
JimmyT Sends