Description Starley ca 1882 Royal Salvo Tricycle From around 1880 tricycles were developed as alternative mounts for people that found it difficult or dangerous to ride an ordinary. At the Stanley Show of 1883, 289 tricycles were exhibited while the number of bicycles was only 233. James Starley’s Royal Salvo, first presented in 1877, was one of the most popular tricycles of its time, thanks largely to Starley’s invention of the “balance gear,” which acted as a sort of differential. As you pedalled the single chain, using the spade grip to steer in a straight line, the balance gear provided the same amount of power to both wheels, eliminating the erratic steering that resulted from other tricycles’ tendency to turn towards the single driving wheel. As you cornered, the gear continued to provide power to both wheels, but automatically allowed the outside wheel to travel faster and further than the inside one. This made tipping over while turning much less likely. To prevent tipping over backwards especially if you pedalled too hard going uphill, the Salvo had a tiny extra wheel sticking out at the back. Partly because of the ride, partly because the balance gear eliminated an extra chain and partly because of the chain guard, the Salvo was the vehicle that opened cycling up to respectable women for first time. So respectable were these machines that, on 18th June, 1881, Queen Victoria ordered two, and that of course gave rise to the “Royal Salvo” name. Steering is effected via a toothed rack system, braking by external band on the axle, operated by a lever. Dimensions are: 17-inch (44 cm) front wheel, 45-inch (115 cm) rear wheels, 170 cm length, 93 cm width, 115 cm handlebar height. The small balancing wheel at the back is not present. This groundbreaking tricycle has been restored and spent many years in the Musée du Cycle in Falmignoul.
