Fife cart
Unknown
Category
Carriages & other vehicles
Date
circa 1887
Materials
Varnished wood body with two painted rubber shod wheels.
Measurements
89 x 165 x 62cm (2ft 11in x5ft 5in x 2ft 1/2in)
Order this imageCollection
National Trust Carriage Museum
NT 272926
Caption
The Fife Car, with red wheels, was also known as a Mail Cart. Little carts such as this could be pulled by a goat or dog but more often just by children themselves.
Summary
Fife Cart built circa 1880. Fife Cart (two wheels) for a child. Body of varnished wood with red painted wheels.
Full description
Little varnished carts of this sort were known as mail carts, although the builder called this particular model a Fife Car. It has unusually light solid rubber tyres on the wire wheels. Although these carts were sometimes fitted up so that they could be pulled by a donkey or goat, there is no evidence of this, and the occupants were probably pulled by an adult.
Provenance
The cart belonged to Samuel Williams of Putney. Gift of Mrs E Dundas. Great granddaughter.
Marks and inscriptions
On bottom rail of the left side of the body.: FIFE CAR On bottom rail of the right side of the body.: FIFE CAR On nearside side of the seat rail.: FIFE CAR On offside side of seat rail.: FIFE CAR On a pressed metal disc.: Portrait of Queen Victoria. Empress of India, Queen of Great Britain & Ireland Jubilee 1887. On the ends of the bottom rail.: EB On the ends of the bottom rail.: CB On the nearside front tyre.: John Bull North Pole On the offside front tyre.: John Bull North Pole On the rear nearside tyre.: John Bull North Pole On the rear offside tyre.: John Bull North Pole
Makers and roles
Unknown, coach builder