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Four wheeled vehicles
AMEMPTON
A variety of light, open convertible carriage designed and built
by Edwin Kesterton in 1855. It could be used open or closed. When
open it resembled the Barouche and the
Clarence when closed. The two heads could
be exchanged by means of a pulley attached to the ceiling of the
coach-house.
BAROUCHE
The ancestor of the Barouche was an Italian
two-wheeled vehicle known as a "Biroccio"
derived from the latin birotus meaning a two-wheeled vehicle. In
ancient times the Barouche was a small two-wheeled pleasure cart
or gig. It was developed in Europe to become a large, clumsy four-wheeled
vehicle with full under-gear and "C" springs. In the 1760's
it was introduced to Britain. Later it was refined to become a semi-formal
carriage with a high box seat, suspended on eliptical springs accommodating
four, or more passengers seated facing one another (vis-à-vis)
with doors and a hood over the rear seat. Most accommodated carriage
servants on rearward dummy boards or rumble seats. It was sometimes
called a German Wagon and was drawn by two, four or six horses.
By the late 18th century it was further refined to assume elegant
lines similar to the Canoe-Landau.
THE BAROUCHE-LANDAU
A sporting version of the Barouche, popular
in the late 18th century drawn by four horses and driven, usually,
by amateurs. It had a high box-seat and usually a rumble seat at
the rear for a groom.
BRAKE
Sometimes spelt "Break" this
was a larger version of the four-wheeled Wagonette
introduced in the late 1860's. They were essentially utility vehicles
designed for many uses, mainly in large country houses and estates,
for transporting staff and equipment; to accommodate shooting and
fishing parties and also for exercising the horses. Heads of families
also allowed their staff to use the Brake to take them to the annual
fair. Shooting Brakes were equipped with a large boot having slatted
sides in order to carry the sporting dogs. Other vehicles were used
by schools and by the army as general heavy utility vehicles.
BROUGHAM
A gentleman's carriage inspired by Lord Bougham, and early 19th
century statesman after whom it was named. First was constructed
unsuccessfully by Sharp & Bland; it was later made by Robinson
& Cook in 1839. There were several varieties of the vehicle
all of which were low slung seating two passengers facing forwards,
screened from the driver by a square or curved glass panel. Examples
of later vehicles, specially designed by the coach builder, include
the "Double Brougham", seating
two forward passengers and one, or two facing the rear; the "Brougham
Hansom", designed in 1887 as a cab with rear
entry and the "Brougham Wagonette",
enclosed seating two passengers per side.
Many old Broughams were converted into
cabs.
BUGGY.
A light four-wheeled American vehicle drawn by a single horse, with
or without a head (q.v.) usually accommodating a driver and one
passenger. There were many types including the Amish, Auto-seat
top, Coal box, Cut under, and Business among others.
BUCKBOARD.
An American four-wheeled light carriage or farm cart. There were
no axle springs the driving seat being mounted on a single board
with springs.
CLARENCE
Originally built by Laurie & Marner of Oxford Street in 1842,
the vehicle was enclosed, drawn by one, or two, horses, and seating
four people back to back (dos-á-dos). It was larger
and more cumbersome than the Brougham
which it closely resembled. Its name was derived from the Duke of
Clarence who owned several of the vehicles. Later many were used
as cabs for public hire, when they were nicknamed "Growlers"
from the noise made when turning the fore-carriage.
COACH
Although versions of a heavy passenger transport vehicle were known
in Roman times throughout the Empire it was not until later that
they became fashionable in Europe.
The term "Coach" originated in the late
Middle Ages in the town of Kocs in Hungary. Although they became
fashionable in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they were also popular
in Holland and Flanders.
They were neglected in Britain, France and Spain until the late
Tudor period.
The first coaches were used to demonstrate wealth and position rather
than comfort since they had no springs, brakes, doors or windows.
On the other hand roads in Britain, at least, were unmade and subject
to snow drifts and heavy rain which often made them impassable.
When first introduced into England, several aristocrats ordered
coaches from Germany while Queen Elizabeth the First is reputed
to have purchased several from Holland.
When roads improved, however, the coach became the main means of
public transport with the introduction of the stage, and later the
mail, coach.
During the second half of the 17th century, coaches were built with
strong underperches of wood or metal which tied and supported the
front to the rear axle. As designs developed, however, these were
lightened with the introduction of steel springs.
On the other hand Heavy State and Town
coaches, and other passenger vehicles (for example
the Concord Coach used by the Wells Fargo company in the USA and
those exported from the USA to Australia and South Africa) relied
on two sets of longitudinal heavy leather straps fixed to inflexible
metal standards to support the body.
The Stagecoach
was introduced into England in the late 16th century to provide
transport between major towns. By the late 18th century they ran
in competition with the Mail coaches which
were introduced by John Palmer, of Bath, for a service between Bath,
Bristol and London in 1784. This was the heyday of coaches. By 1829
there were no less than 94 full sized mail coaches leaving London
for a variety of major towns throughout England. The stage coach
was also popular, brightly painted and aptly named "The Birmingham
Tally Ho", "The Brighton Age" and "The Shrewsbury
Wonder", for example.
Coaches were drawn by four or more horses
with, or without outriders.
As road surfaces improved by Telford and Macadam, travel times were
reduced but the popularity of coach travel was gravely affected
by the introduction of the railway from 1840.
FOUR WHEELED DOG-CART
Four-wheeled dog-carts appeared in many guises. In its day the vehicle
was essentially a light sporting cart used for a variety of purposes.
It seated up to four people back to back (dos-a-dos) in the manner
of the 2-wheeled dog cart. A rear compartment
(“underboot"), was covered by a rear sliding seat, providing
accommodation for dogs, picnics or luggage. The tailboard, with
letting down chains, provided a footboard for the rear passengers.
The frame would usually have been made of ash; the sides, birch;
floor boards pine and the panels of birch or pine. Shafts would
have been made of lancewood; wheel hubs ash or elm; spokes oak or
ash and the wheel rims either with felloes of ash, following the
British tradition or laminated birch following an American fashion.
In some models the shafts were detachable or reefable to facilitate
parking in the coachhouse.
The vehicle
was often fitted with a simple direct brake acting on the rear wheels.
Usually the front wheels were about 2 ft 6 in. and the rear wheels
3 ft 9 in. in diameter. Both would have been iron-clad, or in later
models rubber tyred, and dished at two degrees. The overall length
of the body and shafts was about 13ft – 18ft. The shafts measured
about 6 ft depending upon the horse. The fore-undercarriage and
main body would have been supported on elliptical springs.
The advantage of the four-wheeled dog-cart
was stability eliminating the need to balance the cart, as in the
two-wheeled variety.
The vehicle could be drawn by a single horse (in shafts) or a pair
of horses (with a carriage pole).
LANDAU. A
vehicle reputedly designed in the Bavarian town of Landau in during
the latter part of the 16th. century. It is a four-wheeled open,
or semi-open carriage drawn by a single horse in shafts or a pair,
four or six to a pole and harness. The vehicle seats four passengers
vis-a-vis,and is equipped a collapsible hood. There are
two main types: the "square", with an angular body and
the "round" which is more elegant. The vehicle is either
driven from a box seat or, when used on State occasions by postillions.
LANDAULETTE.
A small, two seat version of the landau seating two passengers facing
forward. It was drawn by a single horse in shafts or a pair to a
pole. To the rear a collapsable hood protects the passengers during
inclement weather.
MILORD
Originally built by Mr David Davies of Albany Street in 1835, the
vehicle found its way to Paris where, by 1850, it had become a public
service hackney vehicle. It had a cab-shaped body hung on four eliptic
springs with a low driving seat. In 1869 it was introduced, in a
slightly modified form, by the Prince of Wales for his mother when
it became styled as the "Victoria".
PERITHRON
See Wagonette
PHAETON
The name is derived from Phaeton , the
son of the Greek Sun God, Phoebus . He claimed
that he could circumnavigate the Earth more quickly than his father
but overturned the Sun chariot while trying to do so. The term,
therefore, was applied to a small, swift vehicle used for sporting
or exercise purposes. It was driven to a single, pair, or team of
four or six horses. Initially they were built very high, mounted
on 'C' or elbow springs with two, or four wheels which measured
up to 6 ft. By the 1830's developments had led to smaller, heavier
and more robust vehicles mounted on sideways semi-elliptical and,
in some designs transverse, springs. There were many names associated
with the phaeton derived from the name of the sponsor, town,
use or design. For example, the Stanhope ,
Canterbury , Mail
or Spider phaeton .
PRARIE SCHOONER.
The main vehicle used
during the migration of American settlers in their move West over
weeks, months or, in some cases, a year. The vehicle, subject to
minor variations, was a four-wheeled wagon consisting of an open
box mounted on an unsprung under-carriage. Attached to the outside
panels were six curved hickory top bows or hoop sticks supporting
a canvas or cotton cover. At the front and the rear of the vehicle
the cover was extended beyond the body to provide additional protection.
Drawstrings were provided in the covers which could be drawn to
provide some extra protection.
The vehicle was high-set
to allow passage over the rocks and streams en route. A
long perch connected the front and rear axles. A toolbox
was also located at the front of the vehicle for repair and maintenance
purposes. A driving seat was set either just inside the top cover
or on the front of the vehicle. Various buckets, agricultural tools,
baggage and domestic items, were hung from the body sides.
The term "Prairie
Schooner" derived from the white canvas covers which,
when seen crossing the prarie, looked like the sails of a schooner.
ROOF SEAT BRAKE
The Roof Seat Brake , which was popular
from the third quarter of the 19th Century, was equipped with three
forward facing seats and a capacity for six passengers. It was used
essentially for sporting purposes. A wicker basket on the offside
rear seat held sporting guns or rods while the area below the centre
and rear seats provided accommodation for dogs.
The brake was used for shooting and race-parties, picnics and other
out-door social events. It was also the custom for the servants
of a household to be given permission to use the brake for visits
to the local fairs and festivities.
Two, or four horses drew this four-wheeled vehicle. It had elliptical
springs and a hand brake working to the rear wheels. Additional
storage space was provided under the front seat with access through
holes in the body on the off and near side.
Such vehicles gave rise to the char-a-banc, which was introduced
to this country by Prince Albert, which had a greater seating capacity.
SOCIABLE
Originally of German origin, the Sociable
appeared first in Britain in about 1790. It was a semi-open carriage
with, or without a box. Those without were driven from the interior
by the owner-driver; those with a box were driven by a coachman.
Four people could be accomodated facing one another ( vis-á-vis
), protected by folding hoods. It was low-slung on four eliptic
springs with doors.
SOVEREIGN
A larger and more elaborate version of the Clarence
also built by Laurie and Marner of Oxford Street.
The Clarence, however, remained the more
popular of the two.
SURREY.
A small light American vehicle with four wheels carrying a driver
and three, or more, passengers. drawn by one or two ponies with,
or without, a head (q.v.). There were several varieties,
the Auto-top, Fringe-topped,
the Pony among others.
VICTORIA
Introduced to Britain by the Prince of Wales for his mother Queen
Victoria in 1869. The original was based on a French vehicle, the
Milord. The vehicle, which was box-driven
by a coachman, was low swept, without doors, accommodating two passengers
facing forward with a collapsible hood. It was used extensively
for park driving and on semi-official occasions. The vehicle could
be drawn by one or two horses.
  
WAGONETTE
The wagonette was a four-wheeled
passenger vehicle drawn by one horse in shafts or two to pole gear
which was introduced during the early 1840's. Entrance was through
a door to the rear and a step iron. Inward facing longitudinal seats
accommodated passengers on each side. The vehicle had no specific
size and was hung on elliptical springs to the front and rear axles
and one elliptical transverse spring at the rear. A lever brake
acted on the rear wheels.
In 1869, Samuel Smith
an East Suffolk carriage maker designed a modification to the Stanhope
Wagonette which allowed acess from the back to the front seats.
The purpose of this was to allow lady passengers easier access by
avoiding the inconvenience and danger of stepping over the front
wheel.
The vehicle which was
given the name of "the perithron" by its inventor, allowed
this access by half the front seat being raised and the near-side
rear seat swinging outwards from the rear.
Apart from "the perithron"
examples of the wagonette included the
brake with a canvas top and the omnibus, with enclosed body drawn
by a four-in-hand team.
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