[ 192 ]
CLASS Va.
DEPORT ON CAPRI AGES GENERALLY, NOT INCLUDING THOSECONNECTED WITH RAIL OR TRAM ROADS.
[The figures after the Names (between parentheses), refer to the Exhibitors’ Numbers and to the Pages in theOfficial Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue.3
Sub-Jury for Carriages.
The Earl of Jersey, C'nairman , 38 Berkeley Square.
J. Holland, Deputy Chairman and liejwrter, 238 Oxford Street; Coach-builder.M. Arnolx, France ; Engineer.
By the “ Instructions from the Council of Chairmen to theJuries ,” we are directed to consider the articles comingwithin our province for examination, under two divisions,and to regard as qualifications of merit in the first class,or, “ carriages of luxury” especially, a “ successful ap-plication of any new material, with elegance of design,and excellence of workmanship, strength and lightness,and reasonable cheapness;” and in the second class, or“ carriages for the public service,” lightness, sufficientsolidity for safety, durability, and cheapness.
Our examinations and awards have been made in strictconformity with these Instructions.
We find that the contributions in our department areapportioned among various countries as follows, viz.:—
n
S
Ji
2
3
o
i
3
.3
a.
2
s*
C
‘E
6
c3
a-
I
o
bo
'a
O
6
-
=
o
>
X
63
79
11
0
2
3
_
4
7
_
_
_
_
Hamburgh - —
1
1
_
-
_
_
_
Prussia - - -
2
2
-
_
-
_
_
_
Grand Duchy of)Hesse — j
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
_
_
_
_
0
2
_
_
_
_
Kussia — — —
i
_
_
—
_
_
2
3
i
_
_
_
_
-
1
_
0
1
_
-
5
_
8
8
-
-
-
-
1
-
Total - -
100
107
11
o
2
3
9
3
(Messrs. J. Hutton and Sons, of Dublin (8S4, p. 257),exhibit four carriages, which are excluded from competi-tion as Mr. Hutton is a Juror in this class.)
Besides the articles in the foregoing table, we have hadunder examination a number of models of minor import-ance, patent axles, wheels, and other parts of carriages,coacli-lace, &c., the peculiar merits of which are not suffi-ciently evident to entitle them to especial notice or com-mendation.
The fact most obvious in the display of carriages is thewant of variety in the kind, and the absence particularly ofthe higher class of equipages, of travelling carriages, pro-perly so called, and of vehicles intended “ for the publicservice.” The dress or plain vis-a-vis , the dress or plaincoach, the landau, the mail-coach, &c., have no repre-sentatives in the Exhibition.
We confess we are somewhat surprised at the deficiencyin this respect; but regard it as accounted for in a greatmeasure by the demand for carriages of these descriptionshaving been so materially diminished by the general in-troduction, within a recent period, of railways.
We are also of opinion that the trade is not fairly any
more than fully represented, and that the art of carriage-making has attained a point of excellence which wouldwarrant the expectation of a higher standard of meritthan is shown in the Exhibition. While we recognizevery generally the use of superior woods, leather, andother materials, in the construction of carriages, the mostadmirable workmanship, and a nice attention to details,we perceive many defects in style, and the display fre-quently of bad taste. There is often an injudicious ex-penditure on costly ornament and elaborate finish, whichare incompatible with the serviceable class of carriages towhich they are applied. In many instances this is carriedto an extent that mars instead of enhancing the beauty ofthe vehicle, and besides increasing the cost, is a positivedetriment.
Comparing the state of the art of carriage-building offormer and not very distant times with that of the present,we consider the principles of building in many respectsgreatly improved, and particularly with reference to“ lightness ” and a due regard to “ strength,” which is evi-dent in carriages of British make, and especially displayedin those contributed by the United States , where there iscommonly employed in the construction of wheels and otherparts requiring “strength and lightness” combined, a na-tive wood (upland hickory) which is admirably adapted tothe purpose. The carriages from the continental Statesdo not exhibit this useful feature in an equal degree.
We observe many innovations and contrivances insprings, steps, fore-carriage locking movements, See.,which are not always improvements, and yet convenienceand nice adaptation have been much advanced in theserespects also within a few years. We notice a justlymeritorious and very nice automatic step on the carriageof Mr. David Davies of London (828, p. 256), and an in-genious spring door-lock on a carriage of 31. Moussard ofParis (657, p. 1209).
In our judgment the appearance of the carriage has notbeen improved by a deviation quite common from thelines hitherto adopted and approved, and we regret to re-mark, under the head of “elegance of design,” that wefind in the exhibition of carriages a great deficiency.While we admit, therefore, that there has been consider-able progress in the principles of carriage-building, weare of opinion that the style has been injured by injudi-cious innovation.
We are aware that the coach-builders of the presentday have had no easy task to perform, in meeting thenew demands of the age, which require them to constructvehicles to convey the greatest number of persons. Itcan hardly be expected that in carriages of such a descrip-tion they can preserve those outlines which have beenesteemed elegant and graceful. It is to be deprecated,however, that this necessity in some cases, of departurefrom the rules approved by good taste, should be dis-played in the higher class of carriages of pleasure andluxury, since these must be exempt from the difficulty re-ferred to; and it is to be hoped that future innovations inthat direction will be governed by a nice discrimination,pure taste, and sound judgment.