Otto dicycle made by the Birmingham Small Arms Co., for Lord Sherbrooke. Made to form patented by E.C.F. Otto in 1879-81. The machine has two large road wheels, both loose on a straight axle which supports the saddle and the entire framing, but from the back of the frame projects a bar carrying a small rubber-tyred roller, which prevents the frame and rider from swinging too far backward, and also can be used as a trailing brake, although normally it is well clear of the ground. Projecting downward in front of the axle are two telescopic rods which support the bearings of a double-throw crankshaft provided with pedals by which the shaft is rotated. At each end of the crankshaft is a rubber-sheathed pulley, which by a steel band dated with transverse driving ribs, drives a similar pulley attached to its corresponding road wheel; in this way both wheels are driven at uniform speed. On each side of the rider is a steering handle fixed to the axle, and connected with the crankshaft bearings in such a way that either driving band can be slackened so that its road wheel becomes free ; these steering handles each contain another handle by which a band brake can be applied to a drum on its road wheel. By these arrangements either road wheel can be driven or checked in a way that enables the machine to be indirectly steered. The driving bands are normally kept at the necessary tension by a spiral spring in each of the telescopic legs. The driving wheels are 56 in. diam., and are 32 in. apart at their tyres, which are of solid rubber; the crank radius is 6 in. and the total weight of the machine is 95 lb. Otto Dicycle made by the Birmingham Small Arms Co 1879-1881
