lundi 15 décembre 2014
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Bringing History To Life With Vintage Carriage Restoration
There's a lot of romance in an old horse-drawn buggy. They are often used nowadays as lawn decorations or advertisements for an antique shop. Some people still use them as a means of transportation, like the Amish and Mennonites. For others, driving a horse-drawn vehicle is a hobby. For this last group, carriage restoration is part of the appeal.
There are carts, carriages, coaches, waggons, and sleighs. Most restorers will work on any of these vehicles. Waggons are designed to carry cargo, with the person along just to get the horses headed in the right direction. Carts have two wheels and can be fancy or plain. Buggies have a hood, like the Amish ones or vintage doctor's buggies. Surreys have a top. Carriages have four wheels, are usually open, and are made for getting places in comfort and style.
Carriages and coaches are fancy as well as useful. Like automobiles today, they were both necessary and status symbols. Having one at all was a plus, but having a 'top of the line' one was luxury. Many features of the vehicles were for comfort, like leaf springs, or for safety, but others were just for show.
Restoring requires a thorough knowledge of the working parts of a vehicle, which are mainly in what is called the undercarriage. Axles, couplers, wheels and hubs, brakes, and springs are just a few parts that must be in good working order for safety. Different styles of carriage have different configurations underneath the seating compartment.
To restore a vintage horse-drawn vehicle, a person has to know how to work with iron, wood, leather, paint, and upholstery. Most restorers do the whole job, although some specialize, of course. Removing rust from metal, making sure moving parts are freed up and lubricated, knowing how to adjust brakes and make wheels strong again is all part of returning things to their original condition.
Many of the carriages seen in driving shows are authentic vintage vehicles, although there are reproductions and modern vehicles designed for the show ring. One modification often seen is rubber rims on wooden wheels, rather than the original metal ones. Rubber-rimmed wheels run smoothly and quietly on pavement, although they don't stand up as well as the iron-banded ones to gravel.
There are many different types of carriage, and different designs within each classification. True aficionados learn all the terminology and try not to scorn those who use it wrongly. They are also able to tell if a restoration has been done well or poorly, or if some feature is not authentic to the period and type of vehicle. Judges look for authenticity in presentation classes.
Restoration can be a do-it-yourself project, but most people choose to get expert help from a professional. The hours of work involved is part of it, but there are also safety concerns. It's nice to know that the wheels won't fall off because the hubs are on backwards or that the brakes will work going into that tricky intersection at the bottom of a hill.
There are carts, carriages, coaches, waggons, and sleighs. Most restorers will work on any of these vehicles. Waggons are designed to carry cargo, with the person along just to get the horses headed in the right direction. Carts have two wheels and can be fancy or plain. Buggies have a hood, like the Amish ones or vintage doctor's buggies. Surreys have a top. Carriages have four wheels, are usually open, and are made for getting places in comfort and style.
Carriages and coaches are fancy as well as useful. Like automobiles today, they were both necessary and status symbols. Having one at all was a plus, but having a 'top of the line' one was luxury. Many features of the vehicles were for comfort, like leaf springs, or for safety, but others were just for show.
Restoring requires a thorough knowledge of the working parts of a vehicle, which are mainly in what is called the undercarriage. Axles, couplers, wheels and hubs, brakes, and springs are just a few parts that must be in good working order for safety. Different styles of carriage have different configurations underneath the seating compartment.
To restore a vintage horse-drawn vehicle, a person has to know how to work with iron, wood, leather, paint, and upholstery. Most restorers do the whole job, although some specialize, of course. Removing rust from metal, making sure moving parts are freed up and lubricated, knowing how to adjust brakes and make wheels strong again is all part of returning things to their original condition.
Many of the carriages seen in driving shows are authentic vintage vehicles, although there are reproductions and modern vehicles designed for the show ring. One modification often seen is rubber rims on wooden wheels, rather than the original metal ones. Rubber-rimmed wheels run smoothly and quietly on pavement, although they don't stand up as well as the iron-banded ones to gravel.
There are many different types of carriage, and different designs within each classification. True aficionados learn all the terminology and try not to scorn those who use it wrongly. They are also able to tell if a restoration has been done well or poorly, or if some feature is not authentic to the period and type of vehicle. Judges look for authenticity in presentation classes.
Restoration can be a do-it-yourself project, but most people choose to get expert help from a professional. The hours of work involved is part of it, but there are also safety concerns. It's nice to know that the wheels won't fall off because the hubs are on backwards or that the brakes will work going into that tricky intersection at the bottom of a hill.
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