Before you spend any money really think about what you will be using it for. Questions to consider are:

What's the width of the narrowest door you need to get it through?

Are there tight corners in narrow corridors (or narrow gaps between display cases/shelves) that you will need to be able to manouver round?

What size cart can you get into your lift (elevator)? Remember that someone has to manouver it in and out.

As far as possible you want to avoid your staff/volunteers having to lift and bend.  So think about the height of the loading surface on the cart (if your mostly moving things from desks to desks then a desk height cart is much better than one just off floor level).  A cart with an adjustable height platform can be very useful (but will be more expensive).

How heavy are the objects you want to move? Check the recommended maximum load for the cart you're thinking of buying.

The type of object you are moving (size, weight, fragility) will also help you decide whether you want a completely flat loading surface (much easier to move heavy objects on and off) or whether you want one with sides to stop things falling off.

How easy is the cart to move (especially when loaded)? If the objects you're going to move are really heavy you may want a powered cart. How easy is it to manouver round corners.

Breaks are useful.  At the very least ones that can be applied when the cart is stationary (then you don't need anyone to hold the cart still while loading).  If you have ramps or slopes to move the cart up and down then you want breaks that can be applied while moving the cart.  This lets you stop it running away from you.

If at all possible arrange for some of the staff/volunteers who will be using the cart to try out the cart before you buy.

I hope this helps



Trevor Reynolds
Collections Registrar, English Heritage
Room 605, 23 Savile Row, London, W1S 2ET, UK
tel: +44 (0)20 7973 3482 fax: +44 (0)20 7973 3001 (GTN  3503 3482) 

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