How did some rudimentary gasoline conversions drive the rear wheel in the late 1890s?

Answer

Via a friction roller pressed against the tire

Early, mass-produced gasoline-powered motorized bicycles often utilized simple, yet crude, methods to transfer the engine's power to the driven wheel. One frequently documented technique involved mounting a small engine such that a friction roller attached to its output shaft made direct contact with the rubber tire of the rear wheel. This friction roller would spin the tire as the engine ran, propelling the machine forward. Other early methods included rudimentary belt or chain drives. This contrasts sharply with modern, integrated drivetrains, as these early conversions were simply bolted onto existing bicycle frames not designed to withstand the stress or the direct contact mechanism of the friction roller.

How did some rudimentary gasoline conversions drive the rear wheel in the late 1890s?

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