English: Various coach-boxes from "A Treatise on Carriages"

SECT. 1. STANDARD COACH-BOX.

Fig. 1. This coach-box is the mofl; general and llniple in ufe, as it is light, alid convenient to re- move on any occafion ; it is moftly preferred for thofe carriages that are alternately ufed for town and country : they are fimply fixed by means of plates, which clip the tranfom, and are flayed on the hind or boot bar, and fixed with collar- bolts.

SECT. i. THE SALISBURY COACH-BOX.

Fig. 2. The Salifbury boot, though of a bulky and heavy appearance, is by far the nioft conve- nient and falhionable coach-box in ufe: it is boot and coach-box together; and although it be apparently heavy, it is not more fo than the common coach-box and boot, together, as the infide is all a cavity, which is peculiarly convenient to carry parcels in, or to contain the coachman's requifites, having a large, flat bottom which, refting on the framings or blocks, makes it more flcady than other coach-boxes oii the common principle. This fort, however, is not fo convenient to remove, and requires, when taken off, to have the vacant fpace filled by ano- ther kind of budget, fuch as is ufually put on to poft-chaifes.

SECT. 3. IRON COACH-BOXES.

Fig. 3 and 6. The iron coach-boxes are of the molt agreeable defign, of a very light appear- ance, but are more heavy than the others. They are made to fix on the top fides of a boot, or are fupported on rich ornamented blocks : they can eafily be taken off from the boot; but from the blocks it is never neceffary, being only ufed to handfome town carriages. Their form differs agreeable to the fancy of the builder; but are moftly of either of thofe defigns that are repre- fented; the one fliewing the footboard, and brackets or ledges on, and the other without them.

SECT. 4. TRAVELLING COACH-BOXES.

Fig. 4. The difference of this coach box lie& in the feat only, is principally ufed for travelling carriages, but which may be made to any of the three laft-defcribed coach-boxes, though moftly ufed to the one reprefented : it is made with iron frames at the ends, covered and lined with leather all round, with a cufhion of the fame, and has leather falls, which anfwer the purpofe of a ham- mercloth : it is fixed on to the top iron-work with bolts, having a cradle, the fame as the others, for the feat ; they fometimes hang upon fprings, and are made with a head and knee-flap the fame as to a one-horfe chaife ; their ufe is to make the fituation of the fervant more comfort- able, and more fecure from danger, when travel- ling on bad roads : they can be made fo as to take off occafionally, and have the ufual feat and hammercloth put on.

SECT. 5. THE CHAISE COACH-BOX.

Fig. 5. This is made in imitation of a chaife body, and occafionally placed on the boot; is of a fize for one or two perfons to fit in, fre- quently intended for the proprietor's own plea- fure to drive, or to give more freedom to view from the front windows. They fhould always be lined with leather, and hung fo as to be eafy to ride in ; a pair of fprings fliould be fixed to the front part, and hung or fixed to the boot; the hind parts fhould be fupported, from thofe fprings which carry the body, by means of a bar which croffes them, having the loop of the coach- box made to encircle this bar, and to hang thereon with a fhort brace. This kind of a coach-box may be made to fix on a one-horfe chaife carriage, and ferve both purpofts; but if for this purpofe only, it is ufually made much more fimpie than the one defcribed.

SECT. 6. THE COACH-BOX SEAT AND CRADLE.

COACH-BOXES are not complete without cradles and feats; but as, on fome occafions, they may be feparately wanted, the feparate ftate- ments will therefore be neceiTary, and their value may be added to the coach-box.

A cradle is a leather platform, made to re- ceive the feat : it is fallened to the loops on the feat irons, and is either buckled or tied thereon, (o as to let ioofe or tighten at pleafure. By thofe cradles the feating for the coachman is made comfortable, and is generally adapted to their feveral conceits.

The feat is a long-formed culhion made of various fizes, but moftly two feet three or four inches, by three feet ten inches, or four feet long, made of ftrong canvafs and leather, ftuffed with ftraw, and covered over with cloth or baize, lined at the bottom ends with ftrong pieces of leather, called galling-leathers, which reft on the feat-iron, and preferve it from wear by rubbing thereon. It is fixed on the cradles by ft raps which pafs through it towards the ends, which ft raps are faftened to the fore ftandards. Sometimes thofe feats are faftened to the featirons with ftraps and buckles; the feat-irons thea

extend to the width of the feat, which has two fquare holes in each end for the ftraps to go through : this method gives more length to the cradle, and makes the feat fink in the middle by the coachman's weight, whereby it is more eafy to ride on.