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Why Old Industrial Carts Have Their Wheels in a Diamond Configuration

Why didn't they just place them at the four corners?

By Rain Noe - February 5, 2016

in Product Design

When you think "industrial cart," you probably picture something like this:

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However, at some point you've undoubtedly seen images of old industrial carts from previous centuries that look like this:

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You're probably wondering why the wheels are in a diamond, rather than a four-corner, configuration. The answer has to do with both function and economics.

First off, consider what a cart like this would be used to carry in the decades following the Industrial Revolution, items like heavy timbers or iron bar stock. Those items are quite long in length. Imagine trying to maneuver something sixteen feet long around a factory or warehouse floor; it would be advantageous if the cart they were sitting on could turn on a dime, or even rotate 90 degrees in place, which is the precise functionality you get from having the two fixed parallel wheels aligned on the narrow axis of the diamond. The two swiveling casters at the points of the long axis provide support and readily rotate.

The disadvantage of this configuration is that the load must be evenly spread with long, like-shaped objects; for example, if one was to load it with boxes of different sizes and weights and place heavier boxes towards the corners, disaster would ensue.

So, you say, why not simply use four swiveling casters at the corners? After all, this would enable the cart to turn in place while preventing the corner-overloading problem. The answer is simple economics: Swiveling casters are more expensive to make than fixed ones, and the factories producing hundreds or thousands of these carts could see a significant savings by going half and half.

Now please turn the volume up on your speakers and click on the video below.

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Ken K

8 years ago

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Also, wheels on a fixed axle can hold massively more weight than swivel casters.

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Roberto Arano

8 years ago

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Nope, having 2 non-castered wheels also allows for much easier "straight" movement when desired, THAT is why only 2 casters are used.

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Richie Lau

8 years ago

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I totally got lost at the Now please turn the volume up on your speakers and click on the video below. what did that video have to do with anything? was that some kind of cute reference to something?

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Noodle Time

8 years ago

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the large carts at lowes/home depot use the same setup, but with 4 corner swivels... imagine the lawsuits that would ensue without the corner support.

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