Tuesday 31st May 1904
Byron J. Carter received a US patent for his friction-drive mechanism. A newspaper at the time explained that the mechanism ‘used friction discs, instead of gears, so arranged as to be instantly changed to any desired speed. The discs also change to forward or backward movement, and can be used as a brake to stop the machine by reversing the lever.’ Carter’s friction drive never really caught on, however, as the discs proved to be susceptible to poor road conditions.