Self-propelled amphibious vehicle - 1805

An amphibious vehicle is one which can be used on land or water. Oliver Evan's "Orukter Amphibolos" dredged the waters near the Philadelphia docks. Its steam-powered engine drove either wooden wheels or a paddle wheel used as a means of transport, on land and on water. Evans demonstrated his machine in Philadelphia's Center Square in 1805, built on commission from the Philadelphia Board of Health. Evans’s steam engine differed fundamentally from earlier models, building a steam engine for his amphibious vehicle that operated at high pressure, 25 or 30 pounds. Many years later, Evans' invention would be sold off for parts. On July 16, 2005, Philadelphia celebrated the 200th anniversary of Oliver Evans’s Orukter Amphibolos. Many historians describe Oliver Evans' invention as the United States' first land and water transporter.

posted on 04-10-2009