Casgliadau Arlein

Float owned by Antonio Forgione. In the terraced streets of Tonypandy, he sold ice cream from metal containers in his float, a forerunner of the ice cream van. It was built by Thomas Lewis and Sons, of Dunraven Street, Tonypandy.

A float is a type of light, two-wheeled cart pulled by a single horse. It was introduced about 1890 as a vehicle for use in the countryside by farmers going to market and carrying milk churns. They were later adapted for use in towns and cities for milk rounds, delivering goods and selling ice cream. An axle in the shape of a crank gave the float a low back, for easier loading and unloading of churns, boxes etc. The driver entered through a rear door and would usually drive the float whilst standing up in order to see the traffic ahead.