Friday, July 13, 2012

Sepia Saturday 134: Wheels



What a huge carriage for such a small passenger! When I saw this image, the Indian auto, the Tata Nano came to mind.  It's not all that much larger!


The Nano was originally priced to sell at the Indian equivalent of $2500.00. Switching back to baby carriages, for the same $2500 price you could buy a Roddler for your precious little jewel. I realize the wheels on this thing are nothing compared to the antique Austrian carriage but you can get a  custom paint job, "tuck and roll" upholstery and who know what else to justify the price.

  


Big wheels also brought to mind the huge wooden water wheels we saw in Hama, Syria. Up to a thousand years old, some of the 20 still in operation are as large as 20 meters across. Not only a sight to behold they groan like prehistoric monsters.  



 You can hear them here:
Hama wooden water wheels grinding
 

12 comments:

  1. I'm glad I'm not in charge of the Syrian waterwheels -- I'm sure I wouldn't be able to tell if they were malfunctioning. What a sound! My favorite part of this post, though, is the comparison of the small car and baby carriage. Never seen anything like either one of those!

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  2. I have been to the source of that river, the Orontes, in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. I wonder if those wooden water wheels have survived all the destruction in Hama?

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  3. So interesting, small cars, and big baby carriages, new engineering. Yes the waterwheels are beautiful, 20 meters across that's huge. Ancient engineering, wonderful. Great post.

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  4. I too have often wondered why we need such big carriages for babies. We had a neat folding Maclaren Baby Buggy in the seventies, but even they have evolved into huge things that need a big vehicle to transport them.

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  5. That's hilarious, the comparison of the tiny car to the huge baby stroller and both the same price.
    And those water wheels - amazing.
    Great post.

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  6. The mysteries of money (or is that pricing) of buggy and car. I'll take the water wheel, what a fascinating object.

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  7. That Austrian carriage is an interesting design but it won't last a s long as the Hama water wheel.

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  8. Dang ... what a great idea to focus on the wheels. That green motorized one is awesome ... I wonder if it has a flip-down thing in the back where an older kid (or a parent) can ride. Awesome post!

    Kathy M.

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  9. The Roddler looks like a cross between a motor scooter and a stroller. It looks like it could tip over easily too.

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  10. An interesting and informative twist on this weeks topic.

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  11. Anonymous3:42 AM

    How funny! That green pram looks like The Dragster of prams! Jo

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  12. Nicely done. That cool green tri-wheeler looks like it may be rocket propelled. Baby go Zoooooom!

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