> > those quints (or even sixts) on which the last
> > rider (fourth stoker?) would sit on a construction
> > over the rear wheel, necessitating a complicated
> > power transfer mechanism either via chaines on
> > both sides of the rear wheel, or via a bottom bracket
> > spindle revolving in the hollow rear wheel axle.
You need both - the rear BB spindle can't go through the spokes, so it has to go through the rear axle! And then you have one chain going forward to the next BB, from which all the power is fed on the other side to the rear wheel.
The purpose of all these machines was pacing track racers. Putting the last rider far backward was useful to provide a better draft. All photos showing these machines on "jaunts in the countryside" were staged publicity photos.
See also Toni Theilmeier's article in VBQ Vol. 2, No. 2.
I'd love to try one - tandems are fast, but with five strong riders... -- Jan Heine, Seattle Editor/Publisher Vintage Bicycle Quarterly c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles 140 Lakeside Ave, Ste. C Seattle WA 98122 http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com