How Castors Would Have Revolutionised The American Revolution

By Author: Mark Farrell
Total Articles: 56
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The American Revolution was a seminal event in the history of the United States and occurred between 19 April 1775 and 3 September 1783. It was initially all about gaining independence from Great Britain for the 13 colonies as a response to the Stamp Act of 1765, which was a blatant attempt to tax them from afar. However, it soon came to be about much more than that and ultimately progressed into full blown war. The outcome is well known these days given that America is the greatest power in the world today and the United Kingdom no longer has the Empire that it was famous for back then. However, have you ever thought just how far some of the technological innovations we have today would have changed the course of the Revolution? Even the little ones? Take Castors for example. They would have revolutionised the Revolution.

It is a well known fact that the British were forced to rely on supplies in the areas that they visited. So, for example, if they moved from one county in Virginia to the next, they would have to source new supplies in the second county because they were only able to transport certain levels of supplies ...
... via horse and the wagons that they pulled. In many cases, the Patriots were able to cut off local supplies and leave the thousands of troops fighting for the Brits exposed, hungry and worse off than they had expected to be. If they had had castors at their disposal then they would have been able to fashion trolleys and other forms of transportation for the goods to ensure that supplies could be carried with them. Although it is debatable how much of a difference this would have made, it would certainly have eliminated one of the advantages that the Patriots had.

There is another advantage that castors would have been able to offer either side relating to the weather. As is obvious by the dates of the American Revolution, several military bouts occurred throughout the winter months. The winter weather was incredibly harsh in the northern colonies and prevented the armies moving in many cases. The little wheels would have enabled them to do so as the heavier duty ones, such as the 2BZQX/XXH/SZ series, which can hold between 2800kg and 11500kg, are used in industry and can withstand extreme conditions and numerous surfaces. If one of the armies was able to mobilise more efficiently then they would have gained an advantage.

Of course, there are significant battles in which Castors would have made a major difference but their greatest use would have been to enable individuals to get around the country much better. They would have definitely revolutionised the American Revolution and may have affected the outcome had one side had them and the other not. It is easy to see how they affect industry and simplify it in many cases today so it would have been interesting to see whether the United States would have become independent had the British had technology on their side against the Patriots’ local knowledge.
Present a further benefit to facilitate Castors would have been able to offer either side relating to the weather. Of course, here are important battles in which Castors would have made a major Change but their maximum use would have been to enable persons to make around the nation much better.