This is an overview of my CD-ROM book ANIMAL-DRAFTED VEHICLES. Similar sized CD-ROM reference books sell in the stores at between $36.00 to $40.00. Selling direct mail we are able to offer ANIMAL-DRAFTED VEHICLES at the low price of $17.00 USA funds only, plus $1.32 tax to California residents.
Will Rogers said, "What I don't know never gets me in half as much trouble as what I know that ain't so." ANIMAL-DRAFTED VEHICLES came into existence because of a time travel book I read where the writer had a fleet of Hansom Cabs in 1895 New York. I knew that the first Hansom Cab arrived in 1903.
This reference overview concentrates on the history and people connected to various vehicles from 6000 B.C. until 1997 A.D., rather than on the construction, except where innovations brought changes in the human arena. As such, it is valuable, not only to writers, but also to role players and historians.
ANIMAL-DRAFTED VEHICLES covers a variety of coaches, carriages, wagons, carts, and sleds. Numerous computer-enhanced photographs and other illustrations are included. Also given are research sources with specialized museums, libraries, modern manufacturers, and places where people can interact with reproductions of some vehicles. My electronic book is formatted as an HTML file so that anyone with Internet access can easily read it.
This is a basic coverage of each period, reporting generally when and where various changes took place from archeological data and, in some cases, more particularly when, where, and who were involved. Some mythos, such as Greek, Roman, and Biblical are used in telling the stories of the use these vehicles were put to. There is one drawing of an unearthed Scandinavian sled and a computer-enhanced photograph of a chariot reproduction.
The chapter break-ups are: 6000 to 5000 B.C. -- 5000 to 4000 B.C. -- 4000 to 3500 B.C. -- 3500 to 3001 B.C. -- 3000 to 2000 B.C. -- 2000 to 1000 B.C. (The Bronze Age) -- 1000 B.C. to 400 A.D. (The Iron Age) -- 400 to 1500 A.D. (The Middle Ages).
In this last section, my reference leaves archeology and myth to go into known historical details on the people who caused changes or were notably connected to events and various vehicles which, in turn, verifies the vehicles' existence in that time and place. During the early part of the Middle Ages many of the Roman roads were demolished to slow invasions, and to use for building materials. This drastically affected what transportation was possible.
There are three clip art illustrations and one photograph of vehicles in this chapter. The chapter gives historical data on various vehicles owned by Anne of Bohemia, Elizabeth I of England, Louis XIV of France, Governor Endicott of Massachusetts Bay Colony, and others in both the old and new worlds. The limiting realities of the road conditions and the often hostile political environment surrounding the developing transportation is covered, also..
Due to the size of Chapter Three it has been broken into three parts for faster downloading since there are 28 computer-enhanced photographs. In the case of survivor vehicles, as opposed to reproductions, the vehicle's documented history is given. The people directly involved with the vehicles of this period include Jonathan Wardwell of Boston, who began the first North American stagecoach line in 1718 among others. The conversion from dirt tracks and rutted dirt roads to "MacAdam" roads, developed by John London MacAdam (born Scotland 1756) changed transportation in both Britain and North American. Other subjects covered include why people in the United States and Canada drive on the right side of the road.
The changes in road construction, coach designs, and expanded use of these vehicles brought about changes in horse breeding as well. The lighter, less expensive to maintain Thoroughbred, replaced the Draft horse in many areas, particularly in cities. Major road building rivaled, and in time surpassed, the Roman Era. One such historical road is the National or Cumberland Road finished in 1818.
There are nine vehicle photographs and several site photographs showing two Southern California museums in this chapter. The chapter reports the known histories of the vehicles shown, and lists several museums and libraries that are good research resources. Also included are overviews of what can be found at each resource with addresses, phone numbers, and in several cases the names of the people to ask for. In some places, such as the Oregon Trail Wagon Train in Bayard, Nebraska, you can ride reproductions of historical vehicles in the same terrain our ancestors endured.
Some human/transport areas that might seem strange for a book on animal-drafted vehicles are included such as the sport vehicle bobsleds and others that depend on gravity rather than muscle power. A few human powered vehicles are mentioned in passing where they impact on the animal-drafted variety. Covered in rather more detail are the Alaska Dog Sled races which have a historical base in on-going transportation in heavy snow country.
Books are listed which have been published since 1900 and are available in the Library of Congress. These books can, most likely, also be found in The Carriage Museum Of America library (covered in Chapter Four). Also listed are those modern United States manufacturers of reproduction vehicles that we found. Many of these companies put out colorful catalogs. One such example is The Montana Carriage Company who have a twelve page color catalog ($5.00) that shows pictures, gives dimensions and prices for seven carriages, two sledges, and one cart. They also list ten wagons (not illustrated) that they build.
My publication track record can be found on this site.
Orders go to Celia Hixon - 861 La Quinta Way - Norco, California 92860
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