^l^Icl^l^lATl,0•$i^ THE WORLD'S CARRIAGE BUILDING CENTER souuenii^ • • OF • • The World's Columbian Exposition; • • FOR • • Visitors interested in Carriage Building, PREPARED BY THE CiNCINNHTI CflRRIHGE EXHIBITORS: THE COOK CARRIAGE CO., THE DAVIS CARRIAGE CO,, THE EMERSON &. FISHER CO,, THE FAVORITE CARRIAGE CO, THE OVERMAN CARRIAGE CO., SECHLER &. CO,, THE STANDARD WAGON CO,, She liEADING CQANUPAGI^UI^BI^S POI^ IPHE ©I^ADE. THE WORLD'S CHRRIflGE BUILDING CENTER Cincinnati, Ol^io, U. S. R. CINCINNATI; PRESS OF ROBERT CLARKE & CO. 1.893. 5.0^^ ^^/ il-^/Oh Copyright, 1893, by E. W. Hedges ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE American Trotting Buggy — '■'One Man Speeder,'' . 20 Three Quarter End Spring Buggy, . . . 21 Combination Coil and Brewster Spring Buggy, . 22 Elliptic Spring Buggy, 25 inch Piano Box, . 24 Elliptic Spring Buggy, 21 inch Piano Box, . . 25 American Buggy of 1826. "Jn Old Timery . 26 Hyde Bark Buggy, , . 27 A Business Buggy, . 29 Gentleman's Phaeton, 31 Broadway Queen Phaeton, -^^i Half Platform Spring Phaeton, . . . -35 A Bunch of Beauties — Two Spring Loop Front Phaeton — "-The Latest,"'' 37 Coach Spring Phaeton — "■ The QueeTt,'' . . Tfi Three Spring Loop Phaeton — "■ Ramona,'''' . . 39 Village Cart, 40 buckboard, 42 Traf—" JiToda/c," . 44 Trap — ''■Kenihvorth,'''' . . . . . . -45 Single Seat Surrey '' Faunt/eroy,'* ... 46 Surrey— Z'/^c' "6Vajr;V/^." 47 (vii) VIU ILLUSTRATIONS. Jump Seat Surrey, 48 Light Four-Passenger Surrey — Stick Seat, . . 50 Light Four-Passenger Surrey — Panel Seat, . 51 Cut Under Surrey, 53 Cut Under Surrey— The ''0/a,'' .... 55 Cabriolet with Extension Top, .... 57-59 Cabriolet with Victoria Top — '■'■Sultana,'" . . 60 rockaway, 62 Boston Corning Buggy, 64 Concord Buggy, 65 Road Wagon, . . .66 Wagonette — 15 Passenger, 67 Light Spring Wagon, Two Seats, .... 69 Three Spring Wagon, ...... 70 T7 "And better had they ne'er been born Who read to doubt, or read to scorn." — Waltei' Scott. T Is not our purpose to devote any part of these few pages to a history of Carriage Buildlnor nor to sur- mising as to what century the first carnage Is to be credited, where put up, the term given It and by whom ; neither will we un- dertake to compute Its cost nor would we here advertise the country to which the making of the ''same old style" of vehicle Is still confined. Visitors to the Exposition will, no doubt, acquire all of such informa- tion as may be desired In the Department of the Antique. To Cincinnati and her Carriage Industry we invite the reader's attention. We are far enough from the East to appreciate the fact that within a few years we have made (9) lO CARRIAGE BUILDING. wonderfully rapid strides in industrial de- velopment, and are not so far West as to have acquired the habit of boasting. As a manufacturing- city, Cincinnati is manifestly bound to be in the lead, her Carriage Industry being already so far in advance of all other cities, and her con- dition for expansion so favorable, that it is not at all among the probabilities that any city on the continent, or in the world, can overtake her. With mechanics who appreciate sys- tematized labor, men willing and able to work in a predetermined way that has been demonstrated to be the best and quickest, Cincinnati is well provided. Surrounded as she is with an abundance of coal and iron and centered in the heart of the finest timber region known, certainly she has advantages, of which men of quick perception and enterprise have availed themselves. Whatever position other cities of the CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. II United States may take in respect to the production of carriages, to Cincinnati is assuredly due the palm of initial enterprise in building" vehicles to meet the require- ments of the economic purchaser. We do not use the term " carriaofe " in a restricted sense as applied to four-wheeled vehicles of the medium and heavy grades, but in- clude carts, buggies, phaetons and light surreys. Prior to 1872 there was no wholesale trade in carriages ; there were custom shops but nothing v/as made for the trade. Cin- cinnati was the first to start, has continued to lead, and the rest of the United States to follow. It was not till 1875 that the growth of this industry attracted much outside at- tention or was thought to be in any way remarkable ; in that year the aggregate production of carriages in Cincinnati w^as ^1,222,222. About this time the term *' Cincinnati 12 CARRIAGE BUILDING. buggy," and the question " where do they all go to," became familiar to every ear. There was more or less prejudice, and some did not speak kindly of us nor of our wares. " Envy keeps no holidays." The car- riage maker who would not understand how machinery could take the place of "labor by hand," was not as scarce an article then as now, and travelers who un- wittingly were giving to Cincinnati a large amount of free advertising, by referring to her vast output of vehicles, would now and then have the cry of "no good" thrown at them ; and there are still to be found some, of whom it may be said : " Whoso is out of hope to attain to an- other's virtue will seek to come at even hand by depressing mother's fortune." We still, however, continue to monopo- lize the larpfest share of the attention of dealers the world over — the aggregate production of carriages in Cincinnati in CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 1 3 1892 was ^11,000,000 (more than double that of any other city in the United States). Our vehicles not only go to all parts of the United States, but in greater or less numbers find sale in Europe, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Central and South Amer- ica, British India, West Indies, and the Sandwich Islands. As a distributing center, it is conceded by all who have ever given the matter any thought, Cincinnati is booked to be the finest, — her trade territory is a complete circle, she is in the very midst of the greatest domestic demand — North, South, East, and West — and by numerous lines of transportation radiating from the great center is enabled to expeditiously, as well as economically, send forth her product and draw in her needful supplies. 14 CARRIAGE BUILDING. IN the foregoing, we have not undertaken to dwell at any length on the advan- tages, natural or acquired, of Cincinnati as a manufacturing city, but only in a general way, and with special reference to her Carriage Industry ; it would be an easy matter, did space permit, to present an ar- ray of facts, regarding not only advantages above referred to, but as well the rapidly growing industries of Cincinnati, as to sur- prise even her own citizens, many of whom are but scantily informed and unconscious of the wonderfully rapid strides she has made within a few years in industrial de- velopment. With the growth of the business in the production of the vehicle proper, has come also the building up of auxiliary branches for the manufacture of the various parts of the same, such as wheels, bodies, axles, springs, carriage hardware, enameled and CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 1 5 fancy leathers ; so that, in conjunction with varnishes and paints, which have long been produced here, it may be asserted that every thing necessary to the construction of a carriage, save that of cloths, is now manufactured in this city. With the accessory trades and special industries centering here, and ready com- mand of the best timber and iron supply, who can doubt that Cincinnati will always maintain the lead in the quantity and quality of carriage production. It may be well to state here, that the companies herein mentioned, own their own wheel, spring and axle factories, as well as the controlling interest in one of the largest dash and carriage hardware establishments in the world, and are largely interested in bolt works and drop forging establishments. So far we have had but little to say of ourselves, yet we feel justified in asserting that whatever success the Cincinnati car- riage builder has achieved is fully deserved, i6. CARRIAGE BUILDING. being the first to undertake the manufacture on a large scale by duplication — the first to be in the market with the "People's Vehi- cle" — naturally reaping the *' first fruits." CI^XINXATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 17 OF the many thousand visitors to the World's Fair, comparatively few prob ably will visit Cincinnati for the express purpose of witnessing the process, and may be familiarizintj themselves with the method of manufacture in vogue in the Queen City's Huge Carriage Shops, yet we can assure all such as may be inclined to visit us, that they will be most heartily welcomed, and that no pains will be spared in showing "how it is" that a carriage equal In every respect to that made elsewhere can be produced in Cincinnati for less money, and therefore ''why it Is" the product of Cin- cinnati factories quadruples that of any other city. We will be pleased to convince you that we are not given to vain-glory, and that ^sop's fly, that sat upon the axle-tree of the chariot wheel, and said, ''What a dust do I raise," was not a Cincinnati fly. 1 8 CARRIAGE BUILDING. OUR Quadri-Centennial year, in which the people of America in celebrating have invited the world to take part, and by means of the Columbian Exposition ex- hibit the progress made in the industries of all nations, presents a favorable oppor- tunity of comparison — the best method of arriving at a just conclusion. To no one mind is the undertaking of this enterprise attributable, but is the out- growth of the spontaneous happy thought of the entire American people, an under- taking, which despite the obstructive ele- ments it has met, has been pursued to complete fruition and patriotic determina- tion. It is natural to suppose that in the Car- riage Department, leaders in the trade, both at home and abroad, have contributed the finest they have been able to produce, and no doubt all will in some respect be found re- CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 1 9 markable — symmetry and elegance of form, harmony of lines, taste and finish of colors and trimmings, and variety of styles, nicely adapted to each and every purpose for which they may be specially intended. We, however, have to do only with our own exhibit in making special mention. We have on exhibition thirty-four vehi- cles, average samples of such as we build for the trade by thousands, and which find ready sale in all parts of the world. 20 CARRIAGE BUILDING. THE first to which we call your atten- tion is a typical American Trotting Buggy, or ONE MAN SPEEDER. Weight, 135 pounds. Light, easy, graceful, and substantial, especially adapted for turf use ; hung on Brewster springs; the body is i8 x 51 in- ches, ^ inch steel axle, compressed banded hub wheels, 43 and 47 inches, with % inch tread, and 4 feet 2 inch track. The body is painted black and gear carmine ; cushion, blue cloth ; but in ordering duplicates of this job, trimming and painting may be changed to suit taste of purchaser, and springs may be Storm in place of Brew- ster if desired. CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 21 THREE QUARTER END SPRING BUGGY. THE above illustration shows a vehicle for light fancy driving, springs graded especially for such service. Body, 22x51 inches; 26 inches seat room; jf axle; 43 and 46 inch wheels, with % tread; 4 feet 2 inch track. Painting: body, black; gear, Brewster green, with double fine line stripe. Trimming, green cloth. Top, back and side curtains of hand buffed leather, lined with superior wool-dyed cloth ; four-barred leather dash ; full length velvet rug and toe carpet. Net weight, 235 pounds. 22 CARRIAGE BUILDING. FASHIONS have greatly multiplied; there are some things, however, which never become unfashionable, and the re- mark is true when applied to the Pia^io Box Buggy, this style having been standard for more than 30 years. The body here illustrated is the regu- lation width of 24^ inches, and 51 inches length, 8% inches depth, with 341/^ inches seat room. It is hung on combination coil and Brewster springs, and finished CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 23 in black without striping or ornamentation, the gear being finished with fine Hne stripes on green. The top is of a late pattern, having but two bows, making it much more convenient, when the top is raised, in getting in and out, and by patent joint is so arranged as to form a perfect sun or storm hood, and when folded a dust hood. Axles, yI inch ; wheels, 40 and 44, % inch tread. Trimming, green cloth. 24 CARRIAGE BUILDING. ANOTHER Piano Box Is here shown. Hung on elliptic springs. Dimen- sions of body, 25x50x8^ inches; axles, yf; wheels, 40 and 44, 7/^ tread. Top all leather, with three leather-covered bow sockets; back and cushion of green cloth; leather boot and dash ; velvet carpet and toe rug. Body painted black, gearing green, with three fine line lemon-yellow striping. Net weight, 300 pounds. CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 2=; AND still another, with slightly different dimensions, the body being 50x21 x 8 inches ; hung on double-sweep elliptic springs; the axles, ^, dropped; hangs very low; wheels, 40 and 44, ^ tread. Body painted black, gear black, with double fine white line ; trimming, green cloth ; top, all leather ; with shafts. Net weight, 331 pounds. 26 CARRIAGE BUILDING. AN "OLD TIMER." By way of variety we have copied from "American World on Wheels," by Ezra M. Stratton, illustration and explanation of AMERICAN BUGGY, 1826: "The body, if not very handsome, was yet very strong and substantial. The side elevation was com- posed of rocker and pillar, behind which was placed a board three-quarters of an inch thick, to serve as the side panel, on which was glued and fastened by screws from the inside, a broad half-round molding for or7ia' mental purposes. From this the reader will see that weight was no objection." Other parts being- equal, we would say not. CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 27 WE now come to buggies differing materially, so far as the bodies are concerned, from those previously de- scribed, but similar in respect to gear. The above cut represents our *' Hyde Park " buggy, and shows a swell round cornered body and seat, having several new features and lines. It is suspended on elliptic spring gear ; axles, yf ; wheels, 40 and 44, % tread. Body painted black ; 28 CARRIAGE BUILDING. gear blue, with glazed blue stripes. Blue cloth trimming. Furnished, when called for, with close top, lamps, and heavier gearing. Net weight, 330 pounds. CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 29 WHAT CONSTITUTES A BUSINESS BUGGY. It should be light, yet strong", easy of access, and with a roomy seat and suffi- cient leg room. There should be plenty of space beneath the seat for the recep- tion of parcels, and a good top. Com- bined with these should be easy riding springs, not too soft, thoroughly first-class wheels, and strong axles. The accom- 30 CARRIAGE BUILDING. panylrig design Is of a buggy Intended to conform to all the above-named conditions. It Is handsomely trimmed In green cloth; springs In back. Body painted black ; gear, green, with double fine line orange stripe ; axles, i| ; wheels, 40 and 44, % tread. Net weight, 285 pounds. .»^i^^Si>: CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A. 31