Made almost entirely of wood, the scooter has a small iron structure to support its beautifully curved bench. To use the scooter, the lucky child owner would sit on the saddle over the rear wheel and propel him or herself by alternating foot thrusts against the ground. The riding style was very similar to that of the “draisienes” invented by Count Drais.
The advantage of this model over Drais’ version was that a child could also ride the scooter by standing on the curved-profile bench, then push off with one leg—a method that became quite popular with later scooters.
Although designed for children, this Portuguese made scooter still weighs in at 19kg and boasts 30-inch diameter wheels.
This scooter was donated to the Museu do Caramulo by Madalena Lacerda Gouveia.