The velocipede

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Niépce’s draisienne

It was in 1818 that he developed a very strong interest for this contraption, cousin of the dandy horse( ancestor of the bicycle without pedals and transmission) and built himself a model. Nicéphore made quite a sensation running on his velocipede on the local country roads. But he could not resist improving it by different means : the adjustable saddle among them .

This velocipede with the saddle is exhibited at the Niépce Museum. In a letter to his brother, Nicephore thought of motorizing his machine, thus imagining the moped.

> Discover Spéos, the photography school that preserves the Niépce House

See our video : 3D reconstitution of Nicéphore’s velocipede