Horse-drawn vehicles, once a necessity, are now either an anachronism cherished by people like the Amish and Mennonites, a hobby, or a decoration. Antique stores like to put them out front, where they never fail to attract attention. People who like history, enjoy driving horses, or like collecting vintage transportation may need expert carriage restoration services.
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.
A lot of important stuff is underneath the seating compartment. There are axles, wheels, hubs, springs, brakes, and all the things that hold them together. This is one reason that people use a professional restorer. Not too many know how all these parts function together for safety and comfort, so they choose to consult an expert.
Carriages are made with iron, wood, leather, and upholstery materials like corduroy and velvet. A good professional restorer can do the whole job, from removing rust replacing worn parts of the undercarriage to applying the final coat of lacquer to the body and the last button on the seat cushions. Some promise results of museum quality.
People who show often want an authentic, vintage vehicle. Every detail must be true to the period of original manufacture and in perfect condition to win a presentation class. Other drivers choose a reproduction, made of all new materials but in the old way, or a specially-designed modern vehicle. These require less care and may be sturdier for going down the road.
Part of the fun is knowing all the different types of carriages and the different designs within classifications. Many driving enthusiasts are knowledgeable about period vehicles and can tell if a restoration has been done correctly. Judges look for authenticity in presentation classes. Anyone investing the time and money required to restore a vehicle should know exactly how everything should look when finished.
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.
A lot of important stuff is underneath the seating compartment. There are axles, wheels, hubs, springs, brakes, and all the things that hold them together. This is one reason that people use a professional restorer. Not too many know how all these parts function together for safety and comfort, so they choose to consult an expert.
Carriages are made with iron, wood, leather, and upholstery materials like corduroy and velvet. A good professional restorer can do the whole job, from removing rust replacing worn parts of the undercarriage to applying the final coat of lacquer to the body and the last button on the seat cushions. Some promise results of museum quality.
People who show often want an authentic, vintage vehicle. Every detail must be true to the period of original manufacture and in perfect condition to win a presentation class. Other drivers choose a reproduction, made of all new materials but in the old way, or a specially-designed modern vehicle. These require less care and may be sturdier for going down the road.
Part of the fun is knowing all the different types of carriages and the different designs within classifications. Many driving enthusiasts are knowledgeable about period vehicles and can tell if a restoration has been done correctly. Judges look for authenticity in presentation classes. Anyone investing the time and money required to restore a vehicle should know exactly how everything should look when finished.
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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You can visit houghtonsulkycompany.com for more helpful information about History Relived With Carriage Restoration.
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