Edward Butler(1862–1940) was an English inventor who produced an early three-wheeled petrolautomobilecalled the Butler Petrol Cycle in 1888, which is accepted by many as the first British car.
Butler first showed plans for a three-wheeled petrol vehicle at theStanley Cycle Showin London in 1884, and again at the 1885 Inventions Exhibition, also in London. Butler built his first car in 1888.
For comparison,Carl Benz,who is generally recognised as the inventor of the modern automobile, built his first working motorcar in 1885, and unveiled it to the public in 1886.
Butler Petrol Cycle
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Built by theMerryweather Fire Enginecompany inGreenwich,in 1888,[1]the Butler Petrol Cycle (first recorded use of the term)[2]was a three-wheeled petrol vehicle. The rear wheel was directly driven by a5/8hp (466W) 600 cc (40 in3;2¼×5-inch {57×127-mm})[2]flat twinfour-strokeengine (withmagneto ignitionreplaced by coil and battery),[2]equipped withrotary valvesand a float-fedcarburettor(five years beforeMaybach),[2]andAckermann steering,[3]all of which were state of the art at the time. The engine was liquid-cooled, with aradiatorover the rear driving wheel. Speed was controlled by means of athrottlevalve lever. The driver was seated between the front wheels.[2]
The vehicle featured in an article in the 14 February 1891 issue ofScientific American,where it was stated that one gallon of fuel in the form of petroleum or benzolene could propel the vehicle for forty miles (5.9 L/100 km) at a speed of 3–10 mph (4.8–16.1 km/h).[4]
Butler improved the specifications of his vehicle over the years, but was prevented from adequately testing it due to theLocomotives Act 1865(theRed Flag Act), which legislated a maximum speed for self-propelled road vehicles of 2 mph (3.2 km/h) in built up areas and 4 mph (6.4 km/h) in rural areas. Additionally, the vehicle had to be attended by three people, one of whom had to proceed in front of the vehicle waving a red flag.[citation needed]
Butler wrote in the magazineThe English Mechanicin 1890, "The authorities do not countenance its use on the roads, and I have abandoned in consequence any further development of it."[4]
Due to general lack of interest, Butler broke up his machine for scrap in 1896, and sold the patent rights toHarry J. Lawsonwho continued manufacture of the engine for use in motorboats.[4]
Instead, Butler turned to making stationary and marine engines.[2]His motor tricycle was in advance of its better-known contemporaries on several points.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^G.N. GeorganoCars: Early and Vintage 1886–1930(London: Grange-Universal, 1990), p.22.
- ^abcdefgG.N. Georgano,p.22.
- ^G.N. Georgano,p.20 cap.
- ^abcAiken, Ken (9 July 2015)."Edward Butler and the Petrol Cycle".TouringRoads Travel and Adventure.Retrieved7 September2020.
Other sources
edit- "Keeping track: All fired up about 'petrol'",The Daily Telegraph,1 February 2002, archived fromthe originalon 31 October 2007
- G.N. GeorganoCars: Early and Vintage 1886–1930.London: Grange-Universal, 1990 (reprints AB Nordbok 1985 edition).ISBN0-9509620-3-1.
External links
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