The first Hansom Cab was built and patented in 1834 by Joseph Hansom, an architect from Leicstershire, England. Known as the Hansom Safety Cab, its purpose was to combine speed with safety, with a low center of gravity that was essential for safe cornering and overtaking. In appearance it looked like a square packing case, with a door at the end of the shaft in front of the wheels, and was driven from a seat on the front of the roof. The seven foot six inch high wheels were as tall as the roof and revolved on short stubs of axles which protruded from the body.

John Chapman modified the carriage in 1836 by moving the driver's seat to the rear, introduced the sliding front window, lowered the wheels and installed a crank axle. The second modification was made by F. Forder of Wolverhampton in 1873. A straight axle that went under the driver's seat replaced the crank axle. Forder was the first to install a pair of doors that could be opened only by the driver. These doors were not opened unless the fare was paid, by way of a small door at the upper rear of the cab. The front had a high dashboard that was curved to allow the horse to be harnessed close to the vehicle. The dash extended to the height of the horse's rump to protect passengers from flying horse's heels.

Hansom Cabs were often hired by society bachelors and clubmen, but were not particularly popular with the ladies. It was not easy to enter one of them without brushing a gown against a muddy wheel, and more importantly, at the time it was not considered proper for a lady to ride alone in a cab, it was considered "fast" to do so.

The Hansom Cab was brought to the United States during the late nineteenth century, and was most commonly used in New York City.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Berkbile, Donald H., Carriage Terminology: An Historical Dictionary, 1978.
Kopitzke, Kenneth, Prairie Primer.
Smith, D.J.M., A Dictionary of Horse-Drawn Vehicles, 1988.
Walrond, Sallie, Looking at Carriages, 1992.