Invention

In our Enthusiast’s Directory in the July issue we attributed the invention of the pneumatic tyre to John Boyd Dunlop. Recently we received a letter from a reader related to a certain Robert Thompson of Stonehaven. Aberdeenshire, who experimented with pneumatic tyres and took out a patent in 1845. He experienced trouble in obtaining materials for research but continued working on solid tyres for tractors. The pneumatic tyre was in advance of its time at this period since bicycles were not in common use. The idea was dropped for 40 years before being re-invented by Dunlop. Born in 1822, Robert William Thompson died in Edinburgh, aged 53. He also invented the fountain pen.