Air-Driven Tricycle Costs Little to Build and Run

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It is generally known, children love (walking) bikes, paddle cars, go-karts and other (small) vehicles with at least two wheels to race against their friends on the pavement or in the schoolyard.

You can, of course, buy a pink plastic look alike Range Rover, and if you are lucky they also sell better quality wooden or iron bikes. But isn`t it much more fun to build one yourself? Together with your (grand) daughter/son, cousin, nephew or next door neighbour. Depending on the age of the child(ren) you can build a motorised vehicle or one you pull with a rope. You do not have to win a Concours, but you can of course always participate and try to win the (local) soapbox race, or show your self-built vehicle at the local fair (in the (pre-war) car world we just call them specials).

It is just about spending some quality time together and teach children how to use tools. In the magazine Popular Science Monthly of May 1922 (on page 103) we found an explanation how to build an Air-Driven Tricycle which you can use. But you can of course also use your own imagination.

Don`t forget, it is all about the fun!

Description:

A one-cylinder motorcycle engine, a pair of small airplane wheels (or motorcycle wheels), an old bicycle, and a 2 in. by 12. by 10 ft. plank are the materials I used to make this air-driven tricycle. The motor and wheels were bought at a nearby motorcycle shop for $10.

A 5-ft. length of the plank was used for the floor of the machine. One end was bolted to the rear axle and the other end clamped to the frame of the bicycle after the rear wheel, seat, hanger, and chain were removed. The clamps were made as shown.

The motor mounting, places directly over the rear axle, was made from the remainder of the plank. A piece 18 in. long formed the back of the mounting and the sides were two pieces 20 in. long, one side of each tapering from 12 in. at the bottom to 5 in. at the top. The front was covered with a large board hinged at the side. It gives access to the interior of the motor mounting containing the gasoline tank, batteries, and coil. When closed, this door forms the back of the seat.

As the gasoline thank is lower than the carburettor, air pressure is used to force up the gasoline. This is provided with an ordinary bicycle pump.

Lag screws were passed through holes in the lugs of the motor into the motor mounting to hold it secure.

The only control is a throttle placed on the left side of the seat, arranged so that the left side of the seat, arranged so that upon pressing it down the gas-valve opens, as shown in the diagram.

The propeller was made from a No. 1 white pine 2 by 4, carefully shaped and balanced. It was fasted on the crankshaft of the motor by means of locknuts and a pin through the propeller and shaft.

By Lawrence Hamilton.

Good luck everyone! If you had success building a vehicle, or you nephew managed to screw a seat onto a plank, please send a photograph to [email protected]. We are very curious to see them!

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