Sulky, circa 1865
THF87347 / Sulky, circa 1865
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Artifact Overview
Mid-19th-century Americans loved harness racing. The minimalistic sulky was essential to the sport. The lightweight little cart consisted only of what was necessary: wheels and axle, driver's seat, and a pair of shafts. When harnessed to a fast trotting horse, this high-wheeled sulky might reach 25 miles per hour or more on a race track.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Sulky
Date Made
circa 1865
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Made in the United States by an unknown maker
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
36.520.160
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Cane (Plant material)
Paint (Coating)
Wood (Plant material)
Color
Black (Color)
Red
Dimensions
Height: 56 in
Width: 61 in
Length: 109.5 in
Diameter: 55 in (Wheel Diameter)
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Related Content
SetOnline Horse-Drawn Vehicles Collection
- 29 Artifacts
The horse-drawn streetcar was an important means of public transportation in 19th-century American cities. New York's Brooklyn City Railroad ran this car on its line between Hunters Point in Long Island City, and Erie Basin in South Brooklyn. But horses were expensive to stable and feed -- and messy too. Operators embraced electric streetcars starting in the late 1880s.