IMPROVEMENTS IN HANSOM CABS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Shanks, of the Firm of Frederick and Robert
Shanks, of Great Queen Street, in the County of Middlesex, Carriage Manu-
facturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HANSOM CABS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Shanks at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1870.
56
FREDERICK SHANKS, of the Firm of Frederick and Robert Shanks, of Great Queen
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Carriage Manufacturers. IMPROVEMENTS IN
HANSOM CABS."
My Invention has for its object obtaining increased lightness of the cab, and
greater facility (more especially for ladies) for entering the same and alighting
therefrom.
In carrying out my Invention in order to effect these objects I construct the body
of the cab in a similar manner to ordinary Hanson cab bodies, but I so arrange the
shafts with respect thereto as that the entrance to the cab will be behind in lieu of
in the front of the cab as heretofore. The internal seats are arranged so that the
occupants will be seated with their backs in the direction in which the cab travels,
thereby obviating the necessity for front windows to protect them from draughts or
from rain and dust; and the driver's seat is situate on the roof at the front part
nearest to the horse, so that luggage may be placed upon the roof of the cab without
in any way impeding the driver's view or interfering with his driving.
The shafts may also be made to shift, so that when desired a pole may be
employed for a pair of horses to be used in place of one, after the fashion of a
curricle.
Cabs constructed according to my Invention are of considerable lighter draught
than those now in use in consequence of less ironwork being required in their con-
struction, whilst the dash board now employed for the purpose of protecting the
occupants of the cab from mud is entirely dispensed with, and facility thus afforded
for harnessing the horse nearer to the weight to be drawn.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Shanks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th May
1877.
FREDERICK SHANKS, of the Firm of Frederick and Robert Shanks, of Great Queen
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Carriage Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HANSOM CABS."
My said Invention has for its object combining the advantages in an inhanced
degree of case and comfort in travelling obtained in Hansom cabs with the pro-
tection, facility for entering and alighting, and other merits of a closed four-wheeled
vehicle; and it consists essentially in constructing the cab with a closed front, at
which part the shafts or their equivalents are attached to the under carriage, and
in forming the entrance at the rear, the dash board being either employed at this
part of the cab in lieu of at the front, or entirely dispensed with, as desired. The
seat for the driver is situate on the roof, at the fore part thereof, the remaining
space on the roof being available for carrying luggage, which by this arrangement
will not interrupt the driver's view or offer any impediment to his driving.
In order that my said Invention may be perfectly understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the accom-
panying Drawing, which represents a side elevation of a Hansom cab constructed
according to my said Invention.
a is the body of the cab; b, the front, which is closed; and c, the back, which is
open, and is fitted with doors in any usual or suitable manner, and with a step d
for the convenience of entering and alighting, and also, if desired, with a dash
board e, as shewn in the Drawing. The internal passenger seat is arranged at the
front, so that the occupants will be seated with their backs in the direction in which
the cab travels; and the external driver's seat f, which is placed on the roof g, is
situate at the fore part thereof, as shewn, whilst the remaining portion of the roof,
vizt., the portion at the rear of the seat f, is available for carrying luggage, the driver
being unimpeded in his view and in the act of driving by reason of his seat being
located in front.
The cab may be drawn by either one or two horses, as desired. In my Drawings
I have represented the cab as provided with shafts h for a single horse, but a pole
may be employed for a pair of horses, after the fashion of a curricle. The connection
of the draw gear with the under carriage may also be so arranged as to admit of the
shafts and pole being interchangeable, either being substituted for the other as and
when required.
The improved cab, which it is proposed to designate the "Linton," possesses the
following advantages over the ordinary Hansom cab, vizt.-It requires less iron-
work, and generally is of lighter construction; it admits of the horse being har-
nessed nearer to the weight to be drawn; the motion of the cab is easier, and the
sway so injurious to the horse is obviated; the passengers are more effectually pro-
tected from wind and rain without the necessity for using the ordinary shutters ;
and increased facilities are afforded for entering and alighting without the liability
(an especial advantage to female passengers) of soiling the dress.
The accommodation which is provided for luggage on the roof renders the cab
particularly adapted for railway station purposes, whilst by reason of its lightness
and the other features of its construction it is suited to the wants of professional
men and the travelling public generally.
In the event of a collision occurring there is less liability of the occupant of the
cab being ejected, while in the case of an accident of any description, as, for example,
the horse falling, the driver is secured by means of a strap, which buckles in front
of him.
My Invention is applicable to Hansom cabs of the ordinary construction, which
may be readily altered at a slight expense.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and the manner in which the same is or may be used, or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusión that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, constructing Hansom cabs with a closed front and with the
entrance at the rear, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Shanks, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
FRED. SHANKS. (L.S.)