A barouche was a 19th century four-wheeled carriage with a falling top, with a seat outside for the driver, and two inside capable of accommodating two people sitting facing each other. Research Barouche
A berlin or berline was a four-wheeled covered carriage seating two person inside, and a third behind on a hooded seat. The driver sat in front. The berlin was first made in Berlin, hence its name, and was popular in France during the 18th century. By the 20th century the name berlin was being used to describe a development of the early limousine motor-car designed to carry five passengers. Research Berlin
Boot Popping is a form of theft in which a gang pose as car windscreen cleaners at traffic lights, and while distracting the car driver by cleaning the windscreen, another gang member opens the car boot and empties it of valuables. The theft works on the principle that in most modern cars when the car doors are unlocked, so is the boot, and can be opened by pressing the boot button. Research Boot Popping
A break or brake was a large four-wheeled vehicle with a straight body and a raised seat in front for the driver, containing seats for six, eight, or more persons. Research Break (Transport)
The Britzka or britzska was a kind of small carriage, used around 1900, the head of which was always a movable calash, and having a place in front for the driver, and a seat behind for servants. Research Britzka
A cabriolet (cab) was a vehicle similar to a hackney-carriage with two or four wheels, originally drawn by a single horse but later by a motor. The original cabriolets were for a single passenger beside the driver and were a kind of hooded chaise. In the beginning of the 19th century an effort was made to introduce cabriolets into Britain, to supersede hackney carriages. It was not until 1823, however, that licences were obtained for cabriolets. At first their number was limited to twelve. These were of an improved pattern, with a folding hood, and seated two passengers, the driver being separated from them by a partition. In 1832 all restrictions were removed, and cabriolets came into popular favour. In 1836 a cabriolet on four wheels, the precursor of the brougham, was introduced, and from this the clarence evolved. In 1834 a patent was taken out for an improved, two-wheeled safety cab by Hansom, the architect of Birmingham town hall. The safety consisted in an arrangement of the framework which prevented the cab tilting backwards
or forwards in case of accident. These cabriolets had a small body, hung between wheels of over seven feet diameter. Two years later a fresh patent was obtained for an improved Hansom. Motor cabs were first introduced in 1897, but failed to pay and were phased out, only to start to reappear in London around 1905. Research Cabriolet
A calash was a light pleasure or travelling carriage, with low wheels, a removable top or hood and driven by the traveller himself, rather than a separate driver. Research Calash
Chariot is a term applied to horse-drawn vehicles used both for pleasure and in war. Ancient chariots, such as those used among the Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans, were of various forms. A common form was open behind and closed in front, and had only two wheels.
The chariot was strongly and even elegantly built, but not well adapted for speed. In ancient warfare chariots were of great importance; thus we read of the 900 iron chariots of Sisera, as giving him a great advantage against the Israelites. The Philistines in their war against Saul had 30,000 chariots.
The sculptures of ancient Egypt show that the chariots formed the strength of the Egyptian army, these vehicles being two - horsed and carrying the driver and the warrior, sometimes a third man, the shield-bearer. There is no representation of Egyptian soldiers on horseback, and consequently when Moses in his song of triumph over Pharaoh speaks of the horse and his rider, rider must be understood to mean chariot-rider. In the Egyptian chariots the framework, wheels, pole, and yoke were of wood, and the fittings of the inside, the bindings of the framework, as well as the harness were chiefly of raw hide or of tanned leather.
We have also numbers of sculptures which give a clear idea of the Assyrian chariots. These resembled the Egyptian in all essential features, containing almost invariably three men - the warrior, the shield-bearer, and the charioteer. A peculiarity of both is the quiver or quivers full of arrows attached to the side. The Assyrian war-chariot was drawn by three horses abreast, and all the appointments were rich and elaborate. It had two quivers crossing each other on the side, filled with arrows, and each also containing a small axe. A socket for holding the spear was also attached. From the front of the chariot a singular ornamental appendage stretched forward.
War-chariots had sometimes scythe-like weapons attached to each extremity of the axle, as among the ancient Persians and Britons. Among the Greeks and Romans chariot-races were common.
In Britain the name chariot was formerly given to a kind of light travelling carriage. Research Chariot
A coupe was a small four-wheeled closed carriage for two persons, carrying a driver outside. The term has come to also describe a motor car with a single-compartment body containing two or three seats or a half-compartment in a railwaycoach. Research Coupe
The Hansom-cab was a two-wheeled horse-drawn hackney-carriage or cabriolet used in the cities and large towns of Britain, and named after the inventor. It held two persons besides the driver, who sat on an elevated seat behind the body of the carriage, the reins being brought over the top. Research Hansom-Cab
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Barouche
