Town Coach

Description

Summary

A coach is a large, closed, four-wheeled, passenger-carrying vehicle or carriage usually drawn by two or more horses controlled by a coachman, a postilion, or both. A coach has doors in its sides and a front and a back seat inside. The driver has a raised seat in front of the carriage to allow better vision. It is often called a box, box seat, or coach box. There are many of types of coaches depending on the vehicle’s purpose.  A coach with four horses is a coach-and-four. A coach together with the horses, harness and attendants is a turnout. A coach might have a built-in compartment called a boot, used originally as a seat for the coachman and later for storage. A luggage case for the top of a coach was called an imperial; the top, roof or second-story compartment of a coach was also known as an imperial. The front and rear axles were connected by a main shaft called the perch or reach. A crossbar known as a splinter bar supported the springs. In the 18th century the use of the ‘fifth wheel’ substituted for the pivoting fore-axle, and on which the carriage turned. Two essential shortcomings of the commonly used light carriage or Hungarian carriage were first, the front wheels were turned by a pivoting front axle, but these wheels were often quite small so the rider, carriage and horse felt the brunt of every bump on the road. Secondly, he recognized the danger of overturning. Carriages are still used for day-to-day transport in the United States by the Amish.

Fenton’s description

The Carriage, a Perch, plated on the sides with Iron, a raised hind end on neat short Blocks, a Footman’s Cushion plated at the top, with carved hind Standards, a raised fore end with neat fore Budget Blocks, a half Wheel fore end, a Salisbury Coach box, Hooped Tyre Wheels with Moulded fellies, common Axletrees and Boxes. The Body with Round Sides, a Sword Case back, lined with Second Cloth and trimmed with 2½ inch Lace, and Swinging Holders, Quilted Sides, double folding Steps, a Wilton Carpet, and two sliding seat Boxes, Venetian Blinds, and a set of Silk Spring curtains. The Plating with silver, a half-inch moulding round the side pannels, on the bottom sides, all round the middle and roof, up the corner Pillars and sides of the door lights, a 3-8th moulding all round the door and front lights, four silver Scroll ornaments, a set of fiat pierced crest Head Plates, a set of light Sham joints, and a pair of oval Lamps Plated. The Hammer-cloth of Livery, trimmed with one top and two middle rows of 2½ and one bottom row of 1-inch lace, a top and bottom row of ornamented fringe 5 inches deep, two pair of Lace Footman’s Holders 2½ inches wide. The Painting of the Carriage picked out two colours, the Body Polished, a pair of Arms painted on the Doors in foliage mantles, four Crests on the Quarters and two on the Stiles. The Braces common, and French pole-pieces. First charge for a Perch Coach £105 9s 0p (without extras). [William Fenton, 1794]

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