quiz 5 (evolution of hearses and coffins) Flashcards
1
Q
what was the first hearse
A
- a rake
- roman farmers plowed field with hiprex
- hiprex = latin for rake
2
Q
the “timeline” of the name changes of the hearse
A
- started as hiprex with the Romans
- Romans introduced it to Britain where it was called the harrow
- when Normans invaded Britain it was changed to hearse
- which is french
3
Q
why did the Normans change the name harrow to hearse
A
- it looked like their candelabras but upside down
- and candelabras were important to their funeral services
4
Q
15th century hearse
A
- 6 feet long
- many skewers for candles
- was a fine craft
- was used for lid of the coffin for processions
5
Q
16th century hearse
A
- when the english spelling of hearse took over (was herse)
- wheeled cart
- to hold the coffin and candelabra
6
Q
ancient times use of bier
A
hand stretcher on which the uncoffined body was carried to the grave
7
Q
change in biers
A
- becmae a hand pulled cart
- at first was specialized to move deceased
- flat wooden form
- forerunner of todays church truck or hearse
8
Q
the bearers of biers
A
- were oldest or most prominent men
- at least 4
- under bearers were additional 4 to tap in for og 4
9
Q
horse drawn hearse
A
- colonial hearses
- 17th century when called horse drawn carriage carrying casket in procession a “hearse”
- 1690 hearse became a necessity
- till 19th century hearse and bier interchangeable
10
Q
19th century hearses
A
- from wooden box to specialized vehicles
- for function then appearance
- were wooden (mahogany)
- elaborate carvings, velvet drappings, and plumes
- different colored horses represented different deaths
11
Q
crane, breed and company
A
- 1850 built metal caskets
- 1854 building horse drawn hearses
12
Q
20th century hearse
A
- remained horse drawn in 1st decade
- was more affordable than motorized
- early motorized hearses were unreliable and loud
13
Q
1st motorized hearses
A
- 1908 by General Vehicle Co the “electric hearse”
- 1909 by Crane and Breed Co the “auto hearse”
14
Q
funeral trolley cars
A
- street car
- more affordable if went past cemetery
- had room for casket and mourners
15
Q
three way hearse
A
- introduced by Henney and Eureka
- casket table opened through side or back doors
- curbside un/loading
- safer
16
Q
limo style hearse
A
- just meant a longer style car
- introduced in 1926
17
Q
victorian style hearse
A
- introduced by Sayers and Scovill in 1938
- Landau style hearse
- padded, leather, or vinyl roof
- landau bars = s shaped iron bars
- inspired by device on horse drawn hearses
18
Q
flower car
A
- appeared in 1940
- basically held a bunch of flowers on back
19
Q
combination coach
A
- 1970s gasoline crisis
- so combined ambulance and hearse “ambulherse”
- then gov. passed laws
- became to expensive
20
Q
coach =
A
luxury hearse
21
Q
coach brands
A
cadillac, lincoln, buick
22
Q
how a coach is made
A
- electrical system removed
- car cut in half (front/rear)
- fitted to long chassis
- connect halves
- paint
- electrical system and fluid lines reattached
23
Q
what was earlier burial
A
- body in bare earth (early egyptians)
- this was influenced by afterlife beliefs, culture, circumstances at the time, and financial status of dead
24
Q
origin of coffins
A
- greek word Kofinos which meant basket
- translated by french to coffin
25
Q
what were the english undertakers
A
- at first furnisher undertakers made coffins and other stuff
- funeral undertakers became just undertaker
26
Q
17th and 18th century burial in america
A
- early colonist buried directly in the ground
- some wrapped/shrouded and placed in a coffin
- cerecloth used
27
Q
early coffins
A
- made fo hardwoods, polished/stained
- anthropoidal shape w/ cloth
28
Q
early coffin shops and warehouses
A
- rapid growth after war 1812
- emphasis on funerals shifted direction of coffins (price, quality)
29
Q
variation in early function of coffins
A
- transformed to early coffin to modern casket
- had increased utility, show status, preserve body, protect from grave robbers, artistic, aesthetic
30
Q
materials and techniques used on caskets
A
- 1835: John White patent for stone/marble/hydraulic cement one
- 1836 James Gray patent for metallic coffin
- these die out since too heavy
- 1860 caskets made of iron, cement, marble, zinc, iron, glass
31
Q
Fisk metallic coffins
A
- air tight
- patented in 1848 by Almond Fisk
- form fitted with porthole for face
- expensive
32
Q
large scale manufacture of metallic coffins
A
- by Crane and Breed Mrg.
- introduced mass production of coffins
- claimed body preservation, protection from water, vermin, infection
33
Q
coffin vs. casket
A
- coffin = originally made of wood/plain, started as rectangle, 6-8 sided (anthropoid)
- casket = “burial case”, wood/metal, ornamentation, lined with fabric, word came from “iron caskets” for jewels
34
Q
metallic burial casket
A
- undesirable
- rectangle more appropriate
- start of “ogee” design to use less metal
- presents body not just encase
- cast iron -> lighter steel
- casket replace coffin
35
Q
Crane and Breeds improvements
A
- bronzed case with bronze finish
- ornamental (cloth covering lower half/fringe)
- plain/octagon shape
- rosewood polish
- fisk style fell out for pretty caskets
36
Q
cloth burial case
A
- patented in 1871 by Samuel Stein
- was light, strong, aesthetic
- 1890 merged with national casket co
- president ulysses s grant style “e” casket
37
Q
Also-Rans of the 19th century
A
- other caskets less popular than wood, Fisk, cloth covered, and metal coffins
- materials: cement, terra cotta, wood-cement, glass w/ iron, basketry
- style: cross shape, adjust sizes
38
Q
life signals/bury alive fear
A
- device in casket to send out sos
- many patented/not actually used
- embalming rid this fear
- coffin torpedo prevent body snatching
39
Q
burial vaults and outside containers
A
- early material: rock, stone, brick, concrete slabs to line grave
-modern concrete vault cam e into being in early 1900s
