Friday, October 7, 2011

Hansom Cabs (and the Hansom Cab Clock Collectors Club of Peroria, Illinois)

Related to my interest in Victorian London is the good old Hansom Cab -  the equivalent of today's taxi cab. It's present in some of my favorite fiction, so I thought I'd do a post.

The vehicle was designed by New York architect Joseph Hansom.   It was originally called the Hansom Safety Cab (doesn't roll of the tongue as nicely) and it was tested and refined in the UK where it became a standard mode of city transportation.  It then spread around Europe and also to the United States.   Read more here.

Here are a few models of the cab:






Souce: dakotapaul.com 




This one above is particularly interesting.  While searching the web I discovered that there is a Hansom Cab Clock Collectors Club, which is part of SherlockPeoria.  If you go to it's page you will see that the club's slogan is "Hey that clock looks like a hansom cab".  Very clever.   To be a member you need to have a particular hansom cab clocked purchased from the Sears catalog.  This particular photo is of a clock owned by a Mr. Vince Wright.  So, collecors, if you have the clock, join the club!













     l like this image a lot.  It's the header for the Sherlock Holmes Museum Shop in London which carries some nice merch.  The museum itself is very good as well.





Now for the funny.  I was google imaging looking for Hansom Cab models and I saw pictures I liked a lot.  When I followed the link it was to this blog! It's one of my own earlier postings (Sherlock in Miniature and Model). That blogger has excellent taste.   (images below)










9 comments:

  1. I have a SH hansom cab clock-the Sears version- that I would like to sell. The street lamp works, the clock, which I believe to be original doesn't, however the hands can be moved. In addition the whip is missing but the mechanism that moves the arm is complete. The clock has been stored in an attic for many years and is in need of restoring. I can supply pictues. If you or anyone in your club is interested in a project, I would like to see this clock go to someone who will appreciate it and bring it back to its original condition. I can be contacted via email at: djelwell@mchsi.com

    Thank you

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  2. I would think the top image toy would have the most collectors value. How much approximately would that be?

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