| Lucius Day Copeland | |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Engineer and inventor |
Lucius Day Copeland was a pioneering 19th-century engineer and inventor from Phoenix, Arizona who demonstrated one of the first motorcycles, the Copeland steam bicycle, a steam-powered Star high-wheeler at the first Arizona Territorial Fair in 1884.[1]
Copeland also invented the first successfully mass-produced three-wheeled car. About 200 of his "Phaeton steamers" were produced[2] before he retired in 1891.[3] Copeland had produced the first successful steam tricycle, with a range of 30miles and taking only 5 minutes to build up enough steam to average 10mph.[4] Accompanied by another director of Northrop Manufacturing, Copeland successfully completed a return trip to Atlantic City of 120miles in one of his three-wheeled "Phaeton steamers". About 200 were produced[2] before Copeland decided that he wasn't making enough money and retired in 1891.[3]
