French Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Doudart Steam Bicycle

Dampf-Fahrrad von Doudart de la Grée mit Kondensator als Sonnendacb.

(Doudart de la Grée steam bicycle with condenser as a sunroof.)

There is very little information about this machine, not even a date. It may however be the product of a famous figure in French history, whose name has appeared on three French warships.

"Doudart became a commander in the French Navy in 1864 and was appointed French resident at Phnom Penh. In 1866 he led a geographic survey and exploration of the Mekong River into Laos and China. He died in northern Yunnan." ~ Britannica

"Ernest Doudart de Lagrée was also an entomologist. Insect collections made by him in Africa are conserved in Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris." ~ Wikipedia

Sources: deutsches-museum.de...Kultur_Technik_1986_Heft2.pdf; Britannica; Wikipedia.