A high wheeler is a car which uses large diameter wheels that are similar to those used by horse-drawn vehicles.[1] These cars were produced until about 1915,[2] predominantly in the United States.
Design
High wheelers were derived from horse-drawn wagons,[3] and often were conversions of these. Similarly to these wagons, they often had wood-spoke wheels, suspensions, and boxy wooden bodies.
The large-diameter slender wheels provided ample ground clearance on the primitive roads of the late 19th century, and frequently had solid rubber tires.[3]
The decline of the high wheeler began when standard automobiles became more sophisticated and inexpensive. The end came with the popularity of the Ford Model T.[10] The last high wheelers were built around 1915.[2]
Manufacturers
The following companies produced high-wheeler cars:
^ abHaajanen, Lennart W. (2003). "High-wheeler". Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles. Jefferson, NC USA: McFarland. p. 85. ISBN0-7864-1276-3. LCCN2002014546.
^Beverly Rae Kimes, Henry Austin Clark Jr.: Standard catalog of American Cars. 1805–1942. Digital Edition. 3. Publisher: Krause Publications, Iola 2013, ISBN 978-1-4402-3778-2, Page 1494
^Marián Šuman-Hreblay: Automobile Manufacturers Worldwide Registry. McFarland & Company, London 2000, ISBN 978-0-7864-0972-3, Page 293
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