What is a Wheelbarrow?
A wheelbarrow is a small hand-propelled cart which is designed to carry moderately sized loads. The structure of a wheelbarrow distributes the weight of comparatively heavy loads, allowing operators to move loads which would be impossible to lift or maneuver without some type of assistive device. Wheelbarrows can be seen on construction sites and in gardens, among many other places, and most hardware suppliers stock wheelbarrows in a variety of shapes and sizes.
The basic design of the wheelbarrow has not changed very much over the centuries. It consists of a deep tray or platform mounted on lightweight frame. One end of the frame has one or two wheels, while the other end has legs and a set of handles. When the wheelbarrow is in a resting position, the legs keep it upright; when the wheelbarrow is in motion, the user lifts the legs up with the handles and pushes or pulls the load, with most of the weight balanced on the wheel, rather than in the hands of the operator.
There is some dispute as to who invented the wheelbarrow. Archaeological evidence suggests that wheelbarrows were used in Ancient Greece as early as the fourth century BCE, and adopted by the Romans. However, some people claim that the Chinese invented the wheelbarrow, although the earliest known Chinese wheelbarrow dates to around the first century BCE. It is entirely possible that both cultures came up with the idea independently, in which case both could share the fame.
The wheelbarrow is such an iconic garden tool that it has even been immortalized in a famous William Carlos Williams poem, in which the author muses on a red wheelbarrow in his distinctive minimalistic style. In addition to being subjects of poetry, wheelbarrows are also extremely useful. Most are lined so that they can carry wet or dry goods, and wheelbarrows for gardening may have especially broad wheels so that the wheel does not gouge lawns. Gardeners can carry dirt, plants, paving stones, cut brush, weeds, and a wide variety of other things in a wheelbarrow, and some gardeners maintain several sizes for various tasks.
In construction, the wheelbarrow is also a very useful tool, and evidence suggests that the wheelbarrow was probably originally devised for carrying heavy construction materials like bricks, broad beams, cement, and quarried rock. Wheelbarrows can also be used to transport wet concrete, construction debris, and an assortment of other items; typically, if it will fit into a wheelbarrow, it can be moved by a wheelbarrow, although really heavy items might require the work of two people.
Written by S.E. Smith
