History of carts

Carts

Carts are special devices or vehicles intended for transport. Usually making use of about two to four wheels, carts can either be stand alone (machine-operated) or drawn by humans or animals. There are various kinds of draught animals usually used t draw carts. Among them are ponies or horses, water buffaloes, oxen, donkeys, dogs, and goat. Makers of carts are usually called “cartwrights.”

History of carts

In as early as 2000 years BC, carts can already be seen in literature. India’s sacred book, the Rigveda, refers to the equality of men and women as similar to the wheels of a cart.

Human-drawn handcarts have been used throughout the world for several decades. From 1956 to 1960, Mormons of the 19th century travelled across the Unite States by handcarts. In early years, carts were not only used for mere transportation. They also served as a form of judicial punishment, being an important symbol of public humiliation. In Ancient Rome, leaders of conquered nations and groups were usually carried in the triumph of the victorious army leader or general. Condemned criminals were also transported through carts. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in England, condemned criminals were subjected to whipping in front of the public while tied to a cart tail.

Types of carts

Carts come in various types, depending on their use, style, and structure. Among the most common and widely used are shopping carts, go carts, golf carts, utility carts, and folding carts.

Shopping carts

Shopping carts are four-wheeled carts specially used for shopping. Particularly used for the transportation of goods within a supermarket’s territory, shopping carts are known in many other terms in various places. In Australia, Britain, and New Zealand, for example, shopping carts are known as trolleys. In New England, United States, they are referred to as shopping carriages or simply carriages. In other regions of the United States and Canada, shopping carts are also called baskets, bascarts, or buggies.

Shopping carts are provided for by supermarkets. Customers are usually allowed to use them up to the check out counter or the cashier. Most supermarkets even allow customers to bring the shopping carts up to the parking lot for easy transport of their purchased goods to their car. The invention of shopping carts is credited to Humpty Dumpty supermarket owner Sylvan Goldman. It is recognized shopping carts were first introduced on June 4, 1937, though it was not until several years later that they grew in popularity.

Go carts

Go carts are more like small vehicles with four wheels, usually used in karting or kart racing. Go carts come in various models, having different designs and speeds. Kart racing is a sport that’s growing in popularity for males and females of different ages.

Golf carts

Golf carts are the official transport vehicles in golf courses. Used to transport both people and golf equipment and accessories, golf carts are usually run with slow to medium speed.

Utility carts

Utility carts are carts used for various purposes such as transportation of various types of goods.

Folding carts

Folding cards are distinct for their foldable feature, which allows them to be transported and stored easily. They are usually found in work environments.

Other types of carts

Drawn by various kinds of animals, carts can also be named after the animal pulling them. Among these types of carts are pony carts, donkey carts, horsecarts and oxcarts. Others are named after what they’re intended to carry. An example is the dogcart, which is intended for transporting hunting dogs. Other types of carts are spring carts, cocking carts, governess carts, rally carts, Whitechapel carts, tax carts, and stolkjaerre.

Catherine Mayers is a professor in a university in South Dakota. She wrote a research paper on carts, their history, and structure in 2006. She is currently working on a research paper about tables and other similar pieces of furniture.