General View, Showing the Important Place Among Vehicles for Hire Filled by the London Hansoms. The hansom's manoeverablity and small size gave it an advantage over four-wheeled vehicles in narrow, crowded streets. The classic hansom design first appeared in London in the 1830s and was quickly adopted in North America and Australia. Source: Outing magazine, vol. XLV, 1904, p. 158.