Pyroscaphe

Model of Pyroscaphe

The Pyroscaphe was the first working paddle steamer in the world and was designed by Claude François Jouffroy d' Abban.

History

In January 1782 a suburb of Lyon, with the construction of the ship was in Vaise started. She was equipped with a two-cylinder steam engine of the brothers Jean. On July 15, 1783 Jouffroy d' Abban made ​​a first test drive on the Saône, watch the many onlookers from the shore. On August 19 he made with invited guests for a test drive and let them confirm the successful experiment by signature on a document. The steamer reached a speed of six miles per hour against the current and perverse for 16 months on the Saône.