Among early vehicle enthusiasts, there’s
no shortage of discussions related to period military Escort Wagons as well as
6-Mule or even 4-Mule Army Wagons. Less
talked about, though, are the dozens of other early military transports such as
Lance, Lumber, Battery, Balloon, Abutment, Telegraph, Trestle, Forge, Tool Wagons
and more. Another seldom-covered
essential vehicle dating to America’s horse-drawn military era is the Ambulance. With origins in a multiplicity of uses,
including as a stage and officer’s wagon, there is still a lot to be uncovered
about this particular design.
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This rare illustration dates to 1868 and shows one view of an ambulance designed by Thomas Evans. It’s from an original promotional booklet in our collection and held in the Wheels That Won The West® Archives. |
It’s been close to a century since the
legendary Studebaker Bros. Company sent horse-drawn military vehicles into the
field. From heavy army wagons to light
carts and artillery pieces, the company created a host of vehicle types for use
by the military. To that point, not long
ago, I ran across an 1898 article referencing “Rucker” ambulances that
Studebaker was building for the Spanish-American War. Originally designed by Brigadier General D.H.
Rucker, the layout came into use during the latter part of the Civil War. This week, I thought I’d pass along a part of
that story from the well-known, early trade publication called, “The Hub.”
“The half-tone
illustration herewith represents one of six train loads of United States
Government ambulances, built by Studebaker Bros. Manufacturing Co., South Bend,
Ind. This company has received orders
for 500 of these ambulances since the outbreak of hostilities with Spain, and
up to the present time they have shipped 316;
50 are to be delivered weekly until the order is filled. These are known as the Rucker ambulance. The sides are composed of three white duck
curtains which may be rolled up if desired.
Under the front end of the wagon and extending the full width of it is a
water tank 16 x 9 inches. The inside of
the body is fitted out to accommodate six persons. Two adjustable partitions are made to fit in
the bottom, which may be taken out when not in use. Each of these partitions is capable of
accommodating one person. Two swings are
suspended from the top, leaving room for two bodies to be placed above the lower
partitions. The wagons will be finished
in natural wood. In addition to the
ambulances, the Studebaker Co. received orders for 1,000 army wagons, 500 of
which have been delivered and the remaining 500 are underway…”
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This late-1890’s photo shows dozens of Rucker-style ambulances leaving the Studebaker factory in South Bend. |
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The Rucker ambulance design was used for decades by the U.S. Army. |
As with virtually every aspect of
America’s first transportation industry, the subject of early ambulances is
more complex than many realize.
Ambulance styles were varied and included numerous designs like the
Rucker, Wheeling, Coolidge, Moses, and Tripler patterns as well as others, such
as Thomas Evan’s 1868 concept shown in the first image above. Some designs received additional credentials as
found in the 1865 patent awarded to Benjamin Howard. While certain layouts might be similar,
others differed by a host of considerations including interior features, body
size, weight, spring configurations, and overall functionality concerns – such
as the ability of the front wheels to turn under the body of the vehicle.
If this week’s blog has whetted your
appetite for more information, you’re in luck.
In 2004, the Carriage Museum of America published a detailed book on the
subject of horse-drawn military, civilian, and veterinary ambulances. If it’s not part of your library, I’d
recommend it. It’s full of information
and you can still find it on-line from a number of sources.
Please Note: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives.
