You got to wonder, who were bankrolling these crazy looking ventures and why? Was it eccentric and wealthy personalities, or passionate and dogged craftsman? Maybe there was a similar aspect to pursue and develop absurd engineering spectacles for viral entertainment and publicity? Just like today with the YouTube content creator scene? E.g instead of customizing a expensive early combustion engine for a absurdly large mono wheel, we now outfit absurdly expensive Tesla vehicles with antique wagon wheels for the views: