Whilst still in his youth, and jointly with his father John, William is credited with inventing "Murdoch's Horse", a mechanically propelled tricycle. It seems this tricycle was in existence for some time, as late as 1784, some 20 years after it was built and referred to by Boulton in his letter of August 6th. 

REFERENCES :
1769, October  - James Boswell in conversation with Dr Samuel Johnson

"Mr Fergusson, the self taught philosopher, told of a new invented machine which went without horses : a man who sat on it turned a handle, which worked a spring that drove it forward"

Authors note : The propelling poles were probably two pump handle type levers working a ratchet on the axle.

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"I find his father hath a wheeled carraige... to go without horses... which Logan Malcomb lately saw in Scotland, (and which) was one of the first mechanical amusements which William Murdoch ever turned his attention to in his youth." 

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Murdoch, the world should know thy scientific fame...
Sprung from a curious deep designing sire
Who rode a horse no mortal e'er could tire,...

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William Murdoch was born 21st August 1754. In his younger days he had shown great powers of genius. He made a wooden horse, on which he could ride to Cumnock, a distance of more than two miles, in a very short time, which was the chief wonder of the inhabitants in this district at that time.

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"But more than sixty years before Macmillans* day, there was often seen in Cumnock a cycle, which can fairly claim to be the first ever made. It was invented by a native of the parish of Auchenleck. The maker of it was John Murdoch. Young William, who had a hand in making it, rode about in it too. There are still persons in Cumnock whose fathers were accustomed in their boyhood to go to Bello Mill and ride Murdoch's horse."

* Kilpatrick MacMillan, a Dumfrieshire blacksmith, has been considered to have invented the bicycle in 1839 and quite possibly saw Murdoch's horse during his travels through Ayrshire. 

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The distinct lack evidence of Murdoch's Horse only leaves us to speculate as to how it looked and how it was operated. The mechanics of the vehicle are sketchy, to say the least, but from the scant few descriptions we have, we do have something to base our imagination's on. This part of the project will deal with exactly that. 

If we were to sketch such a vehicle where would be our starting point?. Quite possibly, further on in time, to the period of the "Steam-Devils" of 1781-86 for we can safely assume that the lessons learned from building the "Wooden Horse", basic layout, weight distribution, etc, would be applied to the steam chariot. So that should give us a starting point. 

As to the mechanics, we can only suggest some lateral thinking to "a man who sat on it turned a handle, which worked a spring that drove it forward" and "The propelling poles were probably two pump handle type levers working a ratchet on the axle."

Could the mechanics be similar to the hand-operated rail wagons where two men work away "see-saw" fashion on two levers either side of a pinion which drive the wagon forward? ( suggestion by Eddie Traynor )

If you think you are up to the challenge of designing Murdoch's "Wooden Horse on Wheels", The William Murdoch Project would like to hear from you. 

Please send an e-mail with your suggestions, comments or drawings. Everything we receive will be carefully considered and if published on the web site will be properly accredited to you.