GLOSSARY
OF HORSE-DRAWN VEHICLE AND WHEELWRIGHT TERMS [A
- E]
Adze. An
ancient axe like tool with an arched blade at right angles to the
handle used for dressing the felloes (q.v.). The wheelwrights adze
is more curved than that of the carpenter.
Arbor. An
axle or spindle for a wheel or pulley
Arm. The
iron, or in the case of farm vehicles, the wooden spindle upon which
the wheel turns.
Anchorhead
bolt. A
bolt head with an aperture for receiving a spring.
Artillery
Wheel. A
wheel first designed by the steam engineer Walter Hancock for use
on steam driven vehicles. It was later adopted by the British Army
for use on gun-carriages, ambulances and supply vehicles. The wheel
had iron naves and reinforced spokes which butted against each
other spreading the torque more evenly around the wheel. It was
also used by railway companies in view of its strength. 
Axle. A
transverse shaft or bar at the end of which is set the axle arm (q.v.)
on which the wheel revolves.
Axle
Arm (or Beak). The
outer end of an axle on which the wheel revolves.
Axle
bed. The
wooden beam to which the axle arm is fitted
Axlebox. The
hard metal centre of the wheel hub, or nave, into which the axle
is fitted. See also Box.
Axle
case. A
wooden beam or member supporting an axle.
Axletree. A
crossbar or rod supporting a wagon or heavy horse-drawn vehicle into
which the axle arm is set.
Back
boards. The tailboard of a cart. 
Bale
hoops. Hoops
or tilts supporting a waterproof cover on the vehicle.
Barge
Wagon. Dating from the 1890's, this was an English
farm wagon with straight, planked sides, prominent outraves (q.v.)
and small front wheels with iron naves (q.v.) which were able
to turn in full underlock. It was drawn by a single horse or
two in tandem.
Barrow. A
small wheel cart. 
Bason
wheel (or Basin wheel). Another name for a dished
wheel (q.v.)
Beak. See
axle arm.
Beak
plate. See Clout.
Bed. A
cross framing member on a wagon.
Belly.
a. The concave inside surface of a felloe (q.v.)
b. The inner curved surface of a felloe into which the spoke "nock" abuts
in part.
Bellied
out. The inside concavity of the felloe (q.v.)
(i.e. the Belly (q.v.)) was shaped with an adze (q.v.) with the
work fixed in a felloe-horse (q.v.) or post vice (q.v.).
Belt
rail. An
arm rest on an open passenger vehicle.
Big
Wheels. (also known as Logging wheels, Michigan
wheels, Bummer carts or Katydids). Overstandard
wheels of 9 feet, 9½ feet or 10 feet diameter they were
originally used for logging in Michigan. Such was their success
that they spread rapidly throughout the logging industry. They
could support logs from 12 feet to 100 feet long. Axles were hard
maple, rims with iron tyres and iron rings on the inside to protect
the spokes. The wheels were always painted red.
Billet.
Short timbers split, hewn or in the round for spokes.
Birlocho.
(Spanish) A heavy, lumbering chaise,
consisting of a one seat body mounted on strong leather thorough braces
attached behind to vertical semicircular steel springs, running on two
large clumsy wheels, and having shafts for one horse. On the outside
of the shafts another horse is attached by a strong rope to some part
of the vehicle, a hook on the other end of the rope slipping into a
ring of his saddle girth. The driver is mounted postilion fashion on
the latter horse, and directs the movements of the birlócho either
by pulling the bridle of the shaft horse, or by urging in the opposite
direction the horse he-rides against the shaft, at the same time punching
the neck of the shaft horse with a formidable looking whip handle. The
postilion's limbs are wrapped in leather leggings; and with bandit slouch
and variegated poncho, knotted raw-hide whip—so called probably from
habitual enactment as well as constituents—and colossal spurs savagely
serrated, the birlóhero, as the postilion is called, presents—doubtless
to the eyes of horses—a truly terrifying appearance.
Bit,
nut wrench. A
box spanner in the form of a Brace Bit, made in sets for square
or hexagonal nuts or bolts from 1/4" to 5/8". Used by
wheelwrigts and others for running nuts on bolts in places where
an ordinary spanner cannot e used, or when a more rapid method
of nut turning is requires.
Blank.
Wood roughly sawn to size for a specific purpose (the making of felloes
(q.v.) Shafts (q.v.) or spokes (q.v.)).
Blocks. Blocks
of wood used in conjunction with springs to allow the clearance of
the wheels.
Bodybrace. An
iron or steel support for the side of a wagon.
Boat
Wagon. A smaller, shallower version of the Barge
Wagon (q.v.), it was drawn by a single horse.
Bolster. A
transverse timber located above the axle to increase the clearance
for the wheels particularly in wagons.
Bolster
plate. An
iron plate fitted to a bolster (q.v.) to reduce wear on the fore-carriage
when turning.
Bond.
See Collet.
Boot.
Any type of luggage compartment on a vehicle, usually projecting
from the main body of a carriage on which a seat is normally set..
Book
step. A folding step on a coach or carriage.
Boss. See
Nave
Bow
Wagon. A traditional four-wheeled farm vehicle
mainly associatedwith the Cotswolds and South West Midlands.
The sides and outraves (q.v.) were arched above the rear wheels
while the fore-end was waisted to allow a better turning circle.
Drawn by a single horse, or two in tandem, it was usually painted
yellow wih red wheels.
Box.
a. The raised driving seat above the forecarriage of a coach or carriage.
b. The hardened metal centre of the nave or hub which runs on the axle.
Box
Wagon. A
traditional four-wheeled farm vehicle associated with the East
Midlands and eastern counties of England. It had dead-axles (unsprung)
and higher, straighter sides than the Bow Wagon (q.v.) but a shorter
wheelbase and limited turning capability.. Usually painted blue
with red wheels.
Box-way. The
hole cut out in the centre of the wheel-hub ready to receive the
Box (q.v.)
Boxing. The
operation of fitting the bearing box (q.v.) into the centre of the
nave(q.v.) in which the axle arm (q.v.) runs.
Boxing
engine.
The tool used to enlarge the central hole in the hub until the
wheel box (q.v) can be fitted. 
Brace.
a. A leather strap or stay supporting C-springs (q.v.), elbow springs, or standards
(q.v.) on a carriage or coach.
b. One of a pair of timbers attached to the perch (q.v.) to keep it at right
angles to the rear axle in wagons.
Brake.
a. A mechanism operated by hand-lever, foot pedal or screw-down mechanism at
the driving position used to retard the motion of a vehicle.
b. A vehicle used for breaking in carriage horses.
Brake
block. A
wooden, rubber or metal block shaped to the profile of the wheel
rim against which it is pressed to reduce the speed of the vehicle.
Breast
mark. A gauge mark lightly incised around the
nave (q.v.) while being turned which marks the face edge of the
spoke mortices.
Breeching
hook. A hook fitted to the shafts of a vehicle
to which the breeching, or rearward body harness is attached.
Broad
axe.
See Wheeler’s side.
Buckboard. A
lightly constructed four wheeled carriage with a long body.
Buggy.
a. A light two-wheeled vehicle drawn by one horse, resembling a dogcart.
b. A low handcart for heavy packages.
Bush. The
metal bearing in the centre of a hub or wheel nave in which the axle-arm
runs (q.v.).
Bummer. A
truck with two low wheels and long pole for hauling logs.
Bummer
carts. See Big Wheels
Calash. A
hood fitted above the front windows of a Britzscha (q.v for wheeled
vehicle glossary))and some Hansom Cabs, it had both front and side
windows and was designed to protect the passenger.
Caléca.
Cant
rail. The protective rail on the roof of a coach or
van.
Cape
Cart. A
light South African cart drawn by two horses and used by the Military
during the Boer War.
Carriage. The
wheels, axles, springs and other underbody parts which form the foundation
of a coach or carriage. It is from this term that “carriage” is derived.
Carriage
parts.
All components of the undercarriage on any vehicle.
Cart.
A general term for a two-wheeled vehicle, both agricultural and passenger
e.g. "dog cart".
Cee
or C-springs. Coach or carriage springs formed
in the shape of a “C” used on pleasure or passenger vehicles.
A brace (q.v.) was used to connect the spring to a spring bracket
on the body of vehicle.
Chamfer. The
trimming of spokes and body members, particularly of wagons, with
a wheelwright’s adze (q.v.), a wheeler’s side (q.v.). and finally
a spokeshave q.v.) to reduce their weight and, in the case of vehicle
bodies, to provide decoration. 
Channels. Grooves
in the wheel rim into which solid rubber tyres are fitted.
Chapman
(John). One time clockmaker and manufacturer
of lace-making machinery who later redesigned the Cab originally
designed by Joseph Hansom (q.v.)
Chim
(also Chin).
a. A term used to describe the joint between two felloes (q.v.)
b. The inside corners of the felloes where they abut together to form the wheel
rim.
Cinch. A
saddle girth.
Clog-wheels. Wheels
used in Yorkshire Dales until the early 19C which did not revolve
around their axles but were firmly fixed to them.The whole axle-tree
revolved between four pegs fixed under a cross beam.
Closed
top. A
carriage with a falling hood (q.v.) and permanently or semi-permanently
raised sides or quarters.
Clout.
An iron plate let into the arm of a wooden axle's underside to take
the wear of the box (q.v.) in the revolving wheel.
Clouting
the axle arm. Arming the arm of the axletree
(q.v.) with iron plates to keep it from wearing.
Coach. The
first comfortable passenger vehicle was constructed in Kocs, a village
in Hungary in the 15th century. The original was known as a "Kocsi" -
from Kocs. It became extremely popular among the Austro-Hungarian
and English aristocracy where its name was corrupted to "coach".
For more details see "VEHICLES - PASSENGER - FOUR WHEELED".
Coach
box. An open framework of metal supporting the
driver’s seat.
Collar.
A rim or ring on the inner side of an axle arm to prevent the wheel
from binding.
Collet.
a. A Metal band fitted to the hubs of vehicles, especially those fitted with
the collinge axle (q.v.)
b. A washer on the axle arm to protect the lynch pin (q.v.)
Collinge
axle. A patented metal carriage axle in which
lubricating of the wheels was incorporated.
Coom
(or Coomb). A northern British dialect term for
the matter which collects at the naves of carriage vehicles.
Coomed-up. Said
of a wheel on which the greace had gone dry and stiff,
Copse.
An iron stay keeping the outrave (q.v.) in position
Coupling
pole. See
Perch.
Cranked
axle. An
axle “cranked” or bent to carry a heavy load with low ground clearance.
Examples of vehicles using cranked axles include the milk float
and market cart in the late 18th and subsequent centuries .
Crook.
The curved section of the sides of a “waisted” wagon.
Crossledge. The
main, central cross member of a wagon body to provide maximum support.
Curricle
gear. A specialised pole gear attached to the
saddle pads of a pair by means of a T-shaped bar and rollers.
A similar gear was used by the Romans.
Currus. The
Roman term for Chariot from which the Curricle and its gear was derived.
“D”
links. Shackles used to support a rear transverse
spring to the longitudinal springs on a cart.
Dash. The
raised front panel of a vehicle immediately behind the horse forming
a shield to protect the driver and passengers from mud thrown up
by the horse.
Dasher. See
Dash
Dashboard. See
Dash.
Dennett
springs. Patent springs dating from the early
19th century in which two longitudinal springs were connected
to a transverse spring under the body of two-wheeled gigs and
dog carts.
Dickey
(or Dicky).
a. A leather apron for a gig or other vehicle.
b.The driver's seat in a carriage.
c. A seat for servants at the back of a carriage (hence "Dicky seat").
Dirt
iron. The
metal plate between the axle bed and the nave (q.v.)
Dish. The
inward, or concave angle at which the spoke is set into the hub giving
the wheel a cone-shaped appearance. The dishing provids greater strength
and security to the wheel.
Dog
bollocking. This
is a somewhat colloquial term used by gypsy wagon builders, and
the gypsies (Romanies) themselves, to describe the butterfly
chamfers found on many of the extensively carved timbers of Bow
Top, Reading and Ledge caravans. This was done with a draw-knife,
and finished off with a light, rounded spokeshave. 
Dog
stick. A wooden stick fitted to the axle tree
(q.v.) which, when dragging along the ground, prevented a wagon
from running backwards downhill when ascending an incline.
Donkey
saw. See Frame saw.
Door
styles. The framing of a coach or carriage door
with an aperture accommodating a drop down window.
Dos-á-dos. The
seating configuration in light carriages and buses where passengers
sit back to back.
Dowel.
Used to connect the ends of one felloe to the next.
Dowel
bound. The
state of a wheel in which the dowelholes were insufficiently deep,
so that the dowels keep the felloes (q.v.) apart instead of allowing
them to meet.
Drag. A
private coach, similar to the Stage or Mail coach usually driven
by an amateur owner.
Draught
pin. A metal pin used to connect the shafts (q.v.)
to the splinter bar (q.v.)
Draw
(also nip). The amount deducted form the circumference
of the tyre-bar length to effect tightness on the wheel.
Draw
(or Drawing) knife. A tool used for shaping and
chamfering work during construction.
Drayel. A
staple or hook fitted to the fore end of a shaft to which the trace
gear for a tandem, or trace, horse may be fitted.
Dressed. A
term applied to wood that is surfaced or planed on one or more sides.
Dress-up. To
finish off woodwork by planing or sandpapering.
Dressing. Planing
and finishing woodwork.
Downward
spoke. (also face spoke). The lower loaded spoke
of a dished wheel (q.v.) which, when becoming perpendicular,
momentarily takes the weight of the loaded vehicle.
Drugbat. See
Skid pan.
Dumb
jack scroll iron. 
Dutfin. An
East Anglian term for a horse bridle.
Eake. See
axle.
Eake
plate. See Clout
Earbred
(also Earbreadth). Fore
or rear the earbred take the same position as the splinter bar
(q.v.) or fore or hind shutlock (q.v.). They effectively support
the ends of the summers (q.v.)and sides of a carriage.
Elbow
Rail. The side pieces of the body framing in
carriages at “elbow height” to which the upper and lower panels
are attached.
Elliptical
spring. A curved iron or steel leaf or leaves
bolted to form an elliptical or semi-elliptical shape. The resulting
spring is hung at its extremities from the main body of the vehicle
to provide comfortable suspension. 
Equirotal. Refers
to wheels of a four-wheeled vehicle which are of equal size, front
and rear. 
Ex
bed. The
axle bed of a heavy vehicle.
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