TUB CART
Natural color varnish; metal-rimmed ties. Trimmed in brown leather.
Each of the Webb children in turn learned to drive in this little cart dating from about 1883 and made to Dr. Webb’s specifications by a local wheelwright. Wheelwrights often made entire vehicles and served as village carpenters.
Wheel-making consisted of several processes—the hub was first turned by hand lathe and then mortised to take the spokes. Felloes or fellies (the wooden outer rim of the wheel), cut by the bow saw and adzed to shape, were then mortised and fitted to the spokes.
Fitting the outer rim to the completed wheel was the final operation. In the old days the wheel was straked—that is, overlapping iron plates were nailed to the rim of the wheel. About 1850 the hoop tire began to supersede the strake. Here the length of iron was welded into a hoop, heated so that it would expand and then dropped onto the wheel. It was cooled with buckets of water and after shrinking made a tight, secure metal rim for the wheel.
Gift of the Webb family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb
(Above) The Webb head coachman holding the pony and Frederica, aged 4 and J. Watson Webb, 2 years old, each with one of the reins. Even before children could walk, they were given their first driving and riding lessons.]
(Below) Frederica has graduated. She is now 5 years old; her gentle pony is Frieda and she can drive alone. Both these pictures were taken at Oakledge, in Burlington, Vermont and show the little Tub Cart designed by Dr. Webb.]
