Takypod- rollerski or inline skate?

[David Dermott]

Is a "takypod" (or tachypod) an early roller-ski or
inline skate? The only references I've found are in the Swedish
Wikipedia

http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takypod

and in the 1926 "Nordisk Familjebok" (Swedish "Owl" Encyclopedia), p323-324

http://runeberg.org/nfch/0180.html

This 1906 US patent by Edvard Petrini of Uppsala may be the
same invention:
http://books.google.ca/patents?id=4ro-AAAAEBAJ

The takypod had a foot operated pedal mechanism and they
claim it was as fast as a bicycle. Was it just an idea
or did it actually work?

--

David Dermott , Wolfville Ridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
WWW pages: http://www.dermott.ca/index.html

[Jan Gerrit Klok]

Fascinating stuff. Does it seem to have a locomotive-like overgeared
propulsion driven by the tilting of the feet? Or is it a very
complicated brake to be able to kick while classic striding?

I saw an ancient clip on the Powerslide website I think. A brace
mounted on each lower leg had ONE rather large wheel, which seemed to
work fine for skating. They took it off-road and over bumps. Might be
interested to re-do with contemporary cyling technology or larger,
lighter wheels.

I still think the real revolution in offroad skating is yet to happen,
and a simple "invention" put in practive will trigger it.

--
Jan Gerrit Klok

[David Dermott]

On Tue, 4 Mar 2008, Jan Gerrit Klok wrote:

>
> Fascinating stuff. Does it seem to have a locomotive-like overgeared
> propulsion driven by the tilting of the feet? Or is it a very
> complicated brake to be able to kick while classic striding?

The article says the pedal power is transmitted via a chain
to a free-wheel mechanism. No mention of brakes.
I also found a photo of a Bruno Söderström, on
a takypod in the weekly illustrated magazine "HVAR 8 DAG"
(ca. 1908) with the caption:

The Takypod, a cross between a bicycle and rollerskate,
is the latest news in the transportation field.
After many years experimenting, its maker, Edv. Petrini
of Uppsala, has now publicly demonstrated his invention.

http://runeberg.org/hvar8dag/10/0279.html

I've sent a note off to a Swedish forum (utsidan.se). Maybe
they can find some more info.