The Dane Mikael Pedersen (1855-1929) made his fortune inven-
ting, and subsequently marketing an improved cream seperator,
which he named „Alexandra“. His business contacts led him to
England, where he met the Lister Company, which produced
agricultural equipment in Dursley in England (and still continues to
do so). Mikael loved cycling, but was unhappy with the comfort of
bicycle saddles. Therefore he invented the hammock saddle and
built the frame around the saddle. He obtained a patent for his
bicycle in 1893, but since he was laughed at in Denmark, he
moved to England and built his bicycle with the help of the Listers
company. Overall less than 8.000 Pedersen bikes were produced;
the diamond frame could be produced much cheaper and became
the bicycle frame of the day. Mikael died as a poor men 1929 in
Denmark. His invention was forgotten.