Improvements in Two-wheeled Carts Drawn by Horses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1900-Accepted, 23th July, 1900
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Improvements in Two-wheeled Carts Drawn by Horses.
We, ERNEST ALBERT DAVIES and CHARLES EDWARD DAVIES, trading as
Saunders & Co., Coach Builders, of 310, Ickneild Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of an improved construction of two-wheeled cart or
vanette to be drawn by a horse, the said construction rendering such cart
extremely useful for delivering goods which necessitate the person in charge
getting in and out of the vehicle very frequently, as is the case in delivering
bakers and confectioners goods.
According to this invention the front of the cart, comprising the boot, the
footboard, and the dashboard near the shafts, is built low, that is to say, set
down from the level of the cart's bottom proper to within a comparatively short
distance of the ground, so that great ease and perfect safety in getting in and
out of the vehicle is ensured. One of the chief features of the vehicle according
to this invention is that the low front as aforesaid enables a straight axle to be
used and yet the pull of the vehicle by the horse to be practically on a line.
with the centre of the said axle; thereby ensuring easy running. The body of
the vehicle is preferably a hooded one, its top being curved and projecting forward
from the front of the body to cover in the low front, so as to protect it in bad
weather. The low built front as aforesaid is partly of a box construction and
partly open, and suitable steps are provided upon the said open portion to
facilitate the getting in and out.
1000
We, ERNEST ALBERT DAVIES. and CHARLES EDWARD DAVIES, trading as
Saunders & Co., Coach Builders, of 310, Ickneild Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-

page_text: vanette to be drawn by a horse, the said improved construction particularly
adapting the said cart or vanette for use for delivering such goods as necessitate
the person in charge frequently getting in and out of the vehicle as, for example,
in the delivery of bread. The essential features in the construction of the cart
as aforesaid are that the front comprising the boot, the footboard, and dash-
board, is built low, that is to say, is set down trom the level of the cart's bottom
proper to within a comparatively short distance of the ground, that the axle is a
straight one, and that the shafts are so disposed that the pull of the horse is
practically on a line or in the same plane with the centre of the said axle; the
objects attained thereby being, firstly, great ease and perfect safety in getting
in and out of the vehicle and, secondly, easy running.
The body of the vehicle is a hooded one, its top projecting forward from the
extreme front of the body to cover in the low front, as aforesaid, so as to protect
it in bad weather."
The low built front is partly of a box construction and partly open, its base
or bottom being built so low as not to require any step for getting in and out.
A vanette constucted in accordance with the foregoing and according to this
invention is illustrated in side elevation in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
In this sheet a is the front of the vehicle. comprising the boot a², the foot-
board a³, and the dashboard a. This front a is built low, that is to say, the
footboard is set down from the level of the cart's bottom proper c to within
a short distance of the ground, which enables the person using the vehicle to get
in and out with the greatest of ease, there being very little depth to drop when
getting off. This setting down dispenses with the usual steps for getting in
and out. d is the axle and e the shafts, the first-named being a straight one
fixed underneath the bottom proper of the vehicle at the back of the boot. The
shafts are comparatively speaking in line with or in the same plane as the
centre of the axle d, so that the pull of the horse is not higher up than or over
the axle; this disposition of the shafts ensuring, easy running of the vehicle.
is the body part of the vanette, and g² the projecting portion of its hooded
top ³, the said portion covering in the set-down front so as to protect it in
bad weather.
h is one of a pair of springs which come intermediate between the body and
the axle for supporting the said body resiliently. i, 2, are shelves within the
body part of the vehicle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
First. A two-wheeled cart or vanette having its front, particularly the foot-
board, built low or set down to a lower level than the bottom proper, and whose
axle is a straight one disposed underneath the bottom proper, and whose shafts
are disposed approximately in the same plane as the axle, substantially as
described.
Second. A two-wheeled cart or vanette constructed and having its parts fitted
and arranged in the manner described and set forth in connection with the
drawing.
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101
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1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also at Liverpool, London and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.