I thought the carts and wagons you often see hitched behind horses in old photos and postcards were pretty simple contraptions. That was until I saw the Hackney Brothers Body Company catalogue of prints, probably published in the late 19th or early 20th century. The catalog shows a variety of models and options comparable to what you find in a modern car dealership. If I was shopping for myself, I think I’d go with the Full Panel Top Delivery Wagon, pictured below.

The Hackney Brothers company, based in Wilson, N.C., showed an impressive ability to adapt to the changing times. They went from producing horse-drawn ice wagons to becoming a leading manufacturer of refrigerated trucks. The company remained active and locally owned under the Hackney Brothers name until the 1990s.

The catalog and more are shared by the Wilson County Public Library.