The chain was not the only method tried for connecting the pedals to the rear wheel. The pictures below show a shaft drive on an 1896 Victor. The detailed drawing shows the bevel gear system produced by the Columbia company for a similar chainless transmission. These gears convert the rotation directions between the pedals,

the shaft, and the rear hub.

From: Adams, "Antique Bicycles," TAB Books (1981)

From: E.A. Sloan, "Sloane's Complete Book of Bicycling,"
Simon & Schuster (1995)