If you think you have trouble parallel parking with your car sometimes, think of this. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the first automobile. It was made by Nicolas Joseph Cugnot, a French military Engineer in... 1770 and it is now exposed at the Musée des Arts et Metiers museum. 3 wheels, a steam engine, all this to carry up to 5 tons at the incredible speed of 4 Km/hour (2.50 Mph). OK, let's be honest, in never really worked, but it was the first time a vehicle did not need anything else than its own propulsion means to move. The photo is pretty boring, but I thought of showing this to you because of what I saw today: the last call to apply for a post-doctoral or senior research grant in a public laboratory in Paris.
I don't think it's boring at all. This whole post is pretty erudite, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting and I really don't think I've heard of it before. Over here in the States we are taught that Henry Ford created the first car. I think the three wheels is quite interesting. Thanks for the new knowledge!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see it cope with l'arc de triomphe.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
I missed GF! Oh-wa. I think Alexa you just scraped in though not quite with two lines? What is the verdict? lol we're so strict here. Is your crown motor-powered?
I love the musee des arts et metiers. It's got the "coolest museum" award in my book, after the Palais de la Decouverte, that is. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd, the CNAM has a coffee-shop / hang-out area next to the museum where you can hang out, with .. oh, I don't know ... a group of PDP fans or something. ;)
Can't even imagine what the horses must have thought when they saw that thing try to propulse itself for the first time. Probably "run for cover, everybody!"
It's not boring Eric, it's just a classic picture. For a classic museum, sounds normal! I really like le musée des Arts et Métiers, you can learn a LOT there.
ReplyDeleteAvec un peu de retard, happy Easter to you all!!
To you too dear Guille.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this is not a boring photo. And, mon ami Justine, I was not taught that Henry Ford created the first car, but that he figured out how to make them on an assembly line. I did not know that anything was created before the 19th century, however. This Cugnot is amazing. I think I'd put a CD player in it, though...
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the great photos and information that you send to us. I attended an academic conference at the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers a few years ago but never had a chance to see the museum -- thank you for this glimpse! Greetings from So. Calif.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that slower than one normally walks? I'm still glad that Mr. Cugnot made the attempt and succeeded, since I am really enjoying my new-to-me car that is a little faster. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat new ideas are always funny in the beginning, aren't they?
I wandered thru not being able to read the French, so I obviously passed by at whole lot of interesting objects. I DO remember the first TV ever, on display there.
ReplyDeleteOne of the 3 statue of liberties is in the museum, too.
OK, UKLynn.....I will come out from under my rock when asked to rule....this is getting scarier and scarier to do as time goes on.....but Justine is the real winner today. Two full lines if you have a picture and two FULLER lines if you don't have a picture, like me! I unfortunately have to try harder!!!!!
This can be found on page swasont sieze(it is a phonetic constitution) line cat, paragraph wheat.
This is a real "guys photo". It is interesting given the current situation with the auto industry, and trying to keep our planet "green". Further research has been long over due.
ReplyDeleteBTW, where are all the "guys"? I thought men were really into cars. :^s
So SORRY Jeff, I did not see you. "CD player" yes, that is just what it is missing. hahahaha
ReplyDeleteLOL, Phx! This kawn-stee-two-see-on must weigh a ton!
ReplyDeleteBut I must run, because I only have another day to submit my application for a City of Paris research grant! Zut alors.
Gee, I didn't know you had a French accent, Alexa!!!
ReplyDeletelol Phx. I concur. Justine, how does your crown look?
ReplyDeleteNot boring, very interesting actually. What did the auto run on? In what directions could it maneuver? I wonder if it was able to go in reverse. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteHi, Lizzy again. I also think it is interesting that it had no cover. It looks like an open wagon or flatbed trailer. As I said before... very interesting.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, Eric! I'd say this is the very first convertible.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they took it out much. And what they did when it rained. Looks like a guy kind of auto to me :>)
ReplyDeleteSince I have been declared GF today, I think I will add a fancy sporty car to the crown. Maybe a Porsche or a Ferrari, something spiffy along those lines...
ReplyDeleteI don't think its boring either - it captures the shrine to science and tech that is the MdAeM - growing right out of a nice old church with a choo choo and all sorts of other machines filing its nave. I dream of being able to spend a day with all the French giants of science there - so many and so great.
ReplyDeleteLynn - LOOOOOOOOOL : )
I can't restrain myself : ) Picture a frustrated American kitty (with a French accent):
Cat says - " 'Nuff!! Set these trays wheat undo these cans!"
(It was the longest numerical sequence I could come up with - but maybe someone can top it!)
Christie - great ideas are definitely funny at the beginning -when they started selling cars they came equipped with buggy whips even though there were no horses in sight. Its sort of like when CDs took over and people still talked about going to the record store even though there were no records left in them.
*filling*
ReplyDeleteAutomobile means, in its ethymological sense : "something able to move by its own" and of course this Fardier de Cugnot was one of this kind. Able to move during (only) 15 minutes, without any direction, nor brake, it even caused an accident (bumping into a wall and destroying it)! The strength that was implied seemed to be big enough!
ReplyDeleteOne of my children did a report in her class lately about first cars and I learnt a lot of interesting things. But I didn't think of going with her to the Musée des arts et métiers (shame on me)! So as it is never too late to learn, I'll go there asap. Thanks to you.
Aaaah, "le fardier de Cugnot" ! A nice flash back to one of the best school souvenirs ! I also see the Musée des Arts et Métiers is not that old fashioned forgotten place it long used to be ! Thanks Eric !
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong Nasty GG? That wasn't so nasty...Feeling under the weather? ;-)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not boring - I think this was the second version - the first was made by Cugnot in 1769. Until I visited CNAM a couple of years back I had thought this hadn't survived. I took a heap of photos and blogged it at the time - http://lostbiro.com/blog/?p=249
ReplyDeleteMichael : What's "Feeling under the weather? "
ReplyDeleteI had no idea who made the first auto. VEry interesting Eric!
ReplyDeleteThat's a decidedly pristine looking basket in the undercarriage - are you breaking out that set of wheels for the PDP picnic, Eric?
ReplyDeleteLOL, phx and Caro!
Alexa, I hope you're intending on using the word 'erudite' somewhere in your application. I'm sure that will help secure your grant.
Ce bon, Lois. I'm used to getting no respect. I was shopping for a used Cugnot, found my wife's dress in the bakset. (!!)
ReplyDeleteI am going nuts trying to figure out the drive mechanism on this machine. I see the pistons and the piston rod, but how is the motion transferred ninety degrees to the wheel? Michael, ask your engineers to explain this, please.
Oh Jeff you took the worry right out of my mouth. Pah, as if! Er... what?
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ReplyDeleteFor the late 18th century this auto-mobile has some remarkably modern features:
ReplyDelete• Front wheel drive.
• Uses alternative fuel to petrochemicals.
• Motive force is environmentally-friendly steam.
• Constructed largely of recyclable and biodegradable material.
• Optional downloadable stereo music system.
• Great driver visibility. There are no blind spots to obstruct the driver’s view when changing lanes.
• Passenger bucket seats.
• It obviously could have come with a 240-mile or 240-year warranty.
I also have to believe it has a good crash rating.
ReplyDeleteJust think of those crash test dummies being filmed in slow motion...and the Cugnot is only going 5 mph. The dummy might not even go forward upon impact.
ReplyDeleteNastyGG..."Feeling under the weather" means not feeling too well, thus not acting like your normal self... :-0
ReplyDeleteMichael, your picture is still cracking me up!*
ReplyDelete*cracking me up: like, laughing my head off*
*forget it.......
And what do you mean exactly PhX? That a face like mine doesn't merit a body like that? LOLOLOL
ReplyDeleteFeeling under the weather is ME!!! We have had the worst allergy season in years in SF and I could just...take a ride on a car that looks like something that would be used at a Logging Camp?? The Musee des Arts et Metiers is very interesting...and the next time I will stop at the cafe...Oh well..
ReplyDeleteJeff:
ReplyDeleteNo crash test dummies but I think you will find this of interest.
Although one might say that there were some dummies involved in the linked crash. Duh Dumb, Duh Dumb, Duh Dumb... “Aaaaaaow.” Obviously taken with the world’s first motion picture camera and sound recorder.
Jeff, yeah the drive mechanism is amazing - the piston connecting rods terminate in sprung 'shoes' that push against recesses in the driving gear attached to the front wheel. When the piston moves up, the shoe rocks out of the way while the other piston pushes down. There is a video on the CNAM site showing the drive mechanism in motion.
ReplyDeleteTG, you're showing off again, fortunately for us. I see from the animation on how the car works that there is NO picnic basket fixed to its undercarriage! None. I think my theory is gaining traction. {A very practical machine, by the way - they could wash their clothes at the same time.}
ReplyDeleteWould love to take a trip in Paris with that one :)
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