I have designed and made this replica Hansom Cab from scratch, and the response has been amazing. There are very few makers out there producing horse drawn vehicles and I thought this would make a fantastic addition to the rest of my motorised vehicle collection!
The two wheeled horse drawn Hansom cab was invented by Joseph Hansom in 1834 for a faster alternative to the four wheeled Hackney carriage. Featuring an elevated rear drivers seat it operated as a Victorian era taxi which spread to major UK cities then across the world establishing a company in New York in 1869, and were still in use until the 1920s.
My model consists of a Hansom Cab with traces and horse in harness with a driver perched on the seat holding the reins which come up over the roof and through a guide to him.
The cab seat is upholstered in silk, and the cab features three lamps hanging off brackets -one on each side and one under the driver at the back. The cab and its wheels have hand painted gilt accents as well as some light weathering to show its in use on the road.
The horse harness and reins etc are all real leather which I make following a (slightly simplified) photograph of an original cab. The driver is wearing a thick overcoat leather gloves and top hat.
I now have plans to make more horse drawn vehicles – so watch this space!
MODEL MEASURES: 300mm long x 120mm wide x 210mm high (approx)
Cab Body design credit: Adapted from Thingyverse file by Earsling Ripper London Hansom Cab used under the Creative commons attribution licence.
