1890 Roper Steam Carriage

Sylvester Roper was an inventor from Boston who is credited with building one of the earliest automobiles in 1863. He also built two wheeled vehicles powered by steam. An 1865 version of the steam carriage is housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan and is the oldest surviving American automobile.

For consignment from the very talented master craftsman William Eggers of Goshen, Connecticut, we have another masterpiece. A fascinating and historically accurate 1863 Roper Steam Carriage reproduction. Utilizing painstaking research and deciphering old plans and writings of Mr. Roper and taking exacting measurements from the Henry Ford Museum where the original Roper Carriage resides, we have this beautiful working display.

Note: While listed as an 1890 Roper, this vehicle is actually a recreation of a 1863 model.

Exterior
Fashioned from maple and oak and plenty of brass and copper, this very accurate replica of Roper's 1863 creation now graces our halls and is up for sale. Extra large carriage wheels with wooden spokes and cast iron hubs are wrapped in steel, provide tiller based steering in front, and have no brakes. If one wants to come to a stop, it is done so by cutting off the steam to the pistons. The wood and brass are in immaculate condition, as if it just rolled out of Roper's shop in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Interior
Atop the front of this carriage is the driver's seat which is a black leather buttoned and tufted seat atop a pedestal with a brass bar for protection from falling off. Controls are seen growing out of the boiler in the form of a stick for the throttle, and steering is accomplished with a brass tiller handle emanating from the floor. A dash curves gracefully upward in the front and it shows an early primitive version of the use of a rack and pinion. .

Drivetrain
Two brass tanks reside on the back of this creation, one for storage of essential water, and the other is a coal fired boiler to produce the steam, which is funneled through a complex series of tubing to a 2 piston engine. In turn, this energy of 2 horsepower transfers to the rear wheels via a chain drive that is connected by a gear on the axle end, and a crankshaft on the piston end.

Undercarriage
Leaf springs are used to dampen the ride which at the time there were really no known roads, merely paths for carriages, so the ride could have been treacherous to say the least

A fully working example showing as an 1863 reproduction and one of the earliest known “automobiles” which translates with the user of auto, meaning not manual or horse, and mobile of course to be in motion. Wonderfully and painstakingly crafted, a real museum piece, and one of the earliest known examples in the timeline of the invention of the automobile. In fact, in the day, people would pay to see such a sight in the form of a horseless carriage and look on in disbelief.

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.

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