Photos

The first of the last two large pieces exhibited in Musée des Arts et Métiers that I wanted to show you : the "fardier of Nicolas Joseph Cugnot", dating back to 1770, the first prototype of a steam powered car.
A military engineer, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot has been the first to used steam to power a terrestrial vehicule. According the the museum's notes, about 1760 several scientists were thinking about using steam to action car wheels. Jugnot investigated about possible uses of steam for military engines. Supported the then Minister of War, the Duc de Choiseul, he produced firstly a model then this protype of a steam chariot which has been preserved and which is displaied here. Unfortunatly, Choiseul quit his functions and the experiment was stopped.
This vehicule, called "fardier" (a charriot to carry heavy load), was intended for example to pull guns and is equipped with three wheels, the front one being actionned by a high pressure boiler placed in front of the wheel and which could be steered using a handle-bar. There is a rear drive and the vehicule can carry a five tons load at 4 km/hour. However, there was no real brake, the boilier had a short autonomy and this first automobile was abandonned before having been used.

The "fardier " is now located near the main stairs of the museum. This picture, taken for the left side (with flash, to the disagreement of a warden), shows the big copper boiler, the front wheel, the wooden frame and the two rear wheels. I post a lateral view (not very good) in workshop.

[PS Elements]