Hansom cab

Uncommon card · No. 120136

The hansom cab is a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle designed as a carriage for hire in London. First patented in 1834 by Joseph Hansom of England, and named the Hansom Safety Cab, it was designed to have a low centre of gravity to improve stability when maneuvering London's crowded streets, while light enough to be pulled by a single horse. The concept was substantially redesigned in 1836 by John Chapman, whose improved design was later widely copied, though retaining the "hansom" name. The hansom cab became the most common vehicle for hire, and was exported across Europe, to other British colonies, and to the US. It is easily recognized by the high seat of the driver behind the passenger compartment.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Andrew Dunn, CC BY-SA 2.0