Tuesday 13th September 1892

Achille Philion was issued a United States Patent for his ‘Steam Carriage’. Philion was a showman from Ohio. In his act, he appeared attired in bright red tights with golden spangles. He would mount a large wooden ball and walk it up a 30 ft. spiral tower. Then he would zoom back down, his feet flying. As he neared the ground, fireworks were discharged ending his act in a blaze of glory. He began working on his steam carriage in 1887, but because of his travels, he would take the unfinished carriage with him wherever he went and work on it as time allowed. Several reports credit the carriage as operating in 1890. Thousands of visitors saw Philion’s steam carriage displayed at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The carriage could be steered from either the front or the rear and a top speed of 8 mph. Mr. Philion’s steam carriage appeared in at least two Hollywood films; “Excuse My Dust” with Red Skelton and “The Magnificent Ambersons” with Orson Wells.