CARRIAGES AND WAGONS. combination vehicle, having the appear ance of the Brewster buggy, but said to excel it in riding qualities, is constructed with the Timken body cross-springs and the Brewster end-springs (see h'ig. 1). The end-springs act as a cushion when the buggy strikes any obstruction, and the long elastic cross-springs overcome the force of the jar. so that it will hardly he felt by the time it strikes the body therefore, the occupants of the vehicle do not receive the sante shock as they would in a vehicle where the force strikes the body direct from the wheels. A double-perch gear allows the perches to drop below the axle. The entire gear is illustrated in Fig. 2.
woods have the preference in this class. Among the improvements introduced in construction is an arrangement whereby, when the tail-board is moved down, the seat with the lazy-back slides forward about 6 in. The seat-board is hinged in the center, the rear side lazy-back being made to revolve so that the occupant can ride facing forward or backward, The whiffletree is connected with chains at the center and fastened to the axles at the springs.
The Wagonet is growing in favor for short-trip excursions, and designs are multiplying. In one of the latest productions the lines of the front gear are made to harmonize with the curves of the body, and greater firmness is given to the gear by distributing the weight evenly upon the fifth wheel. The king-bolt is placed ahead of the axle, without the usual curved bed. The dimensions are: Width of body on top, 42 in.; at bottom, 37 in.; distance center to center of axles, 63 in.: diameter of front wheels, 36 in., and rear. 45 in.; diameter of fifth wheel. 28 in. Track measured outside to outside on ground, 4 ft. 10+ in.
are popular when finished in the natural woods. The rear seat is now fre quently made reversible. A recent design has the front suspended upon one elliptic spring, while at the rear the bottom rests on the axle, and the rear seat is carried by an elliptic spring supported by the bottom over the axle.
A new and attractive design of buck-board, having three seats and a rumble (adapted for six passengers) meets with a steady demand. The natural-wood fini-h is again the favorite,
with drab corduroy trimming and black iron-work. The construction of the body is simple.
The bottom hoards consist of three pieces of ash, with three crosspieces 4 X 13 in. in the center, tapered to t in. at the ends. At the rear end of the body two pieces are bolted to the bottom boards, extending hack about 24 in. to take the foot-board for the rumble. The side-bars are of breast. There are front and rear springs, and a cross-spring both at front and rear, and the vehicle has two perches. Width of body, about 3t1 in.; wheels, 48 in. front and 50 in. rear in the wood ; center to center of axles, 01 in.: traek, 4 ft. 8 in.; diameter of half fifth wheel, 14 in. The above. are the principal measurements only; builders of buck boards will he able to readily supply the rest.
Another novelty in buck-hoard wagons was recently built in Newark, N. J. The front seat is hinged, and on lifting it a child's seat may be drawn out ; this has a hinged iron sup port which then falls into place. The rear seat is hung on jump-seat or loop-irons, so that it may be placed in any part of the back of the body. The rumble is made of bent stock, as usual. As a nice set-off to the Datural-wood body finish, the gearing is striped with carmine. Light principal change in the designs of spindle-wagons is the slightly curved toe-braeket, which has a graceful and pleasing effect. The suspension is on cross Brewster springs, with side-bar and bolsters, which allow the body to be hung compara tively low. The body-sills are of hard body ash, bent at the toe to the shape of the pattern. A light rocker-plate screwed to the inside of the sills gives extra strength, Surreys are now often made with four elliptic springs instead of suspending them on side bars, or two elliptic springs with high wheels. A wheel-house can be used to great advantage in connection with this new arrangement. In one particular form the sides of the body are straight, and there is no door between the seats, but the front seat is made to turn over, which gives easy access to the rear of the body. Surreys also have canopied tops fitted to them oc casionally.