Engineers and Mechanics Encyclopedia 1839: Railways: Bramley and Parker

Messrs. Bramley and Parker, of Moulsley Priory, in Surrey, received patent grants for their improvements in locomotive carriages, applicable to rail and other roads; which we shall very briefly describe, as they do not appear to its likely to become of much practical utility in the present state of the art of locomotion.

The improvements contemplated are of three kinds. The first consists of a carriage to be propelled by horses, working a pair of tread-wheels; the second of a light carriage to be propelled by one or more men, resting with their chests on cushions, and communicating motion to cranks by pushing out with their feet, as in the act of swimming; the third consists of an arrangement for preserving the box of the wheel on the end of the axle.

The latter plan is very deficient in novelty; the other two are modifications of many similar propositions to obtain mechanical force from animal agency; but we cannot agree with the ingenious patentees that they are "certain improvements." The details of these inventions, with the amusing illustrative drawings, may be seen at the "Six clerks' office" in Chancery-lane.

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