CARRIAGES OF AMERICAN ORIGIN
Body painted dark green, green gear. Trimmed in tan canvas.
Because of its great popularity the surrey was stocked even at mail-order houses during the latter part of the 19th and early years of the 20th century. As today there is an automobile for each American, no matter what his financial standing, so in those days there was a carriage manufactured especially for his needs, and one of the mail-order houses advertised that its volume of business was so great that it expected to make only $1 profit on its least expensive model.
The hit song of the musical comedyOklahomawas the “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” and this vehicle, a particularly elegant and sophisticated version of the surrey, answers that description.
Body painted dark olive green, striped with red. Trimmed in black.
The extension top used on this surrey was later incorporated into the early auto designs.
This surrey was built in Burlington, Vermont by J. R. and J. H. Lockwood and was used in and around this community for many years by the Wells family, who were connected with the manufacture of dyes and patent medicine. The Wells and Richardson Company commenced business in 1872 and seven years later began an intensive advertising program for their then little-known remedy, “Kidney-Wort.” In 1881 they invested $150,000 in direct advertising—a phenomenal sum at that time, but the sales justified the expenditure, as they mounted to over half-a-million dollars that year. Wells and Richardson also manufactured Diamond Dyes and “Improved Butter Color” and these products earned a world-wide reputation for this Burlington, Vermont business concern.
Body painted black with red gear. Trimmed in black broadcloth.
There were many types of rockaways, but the distinguishing feature of this vehicle is the roof which projected over the driver, assuring him of some protection in inclement weather.
This depot wagon or curtain rockaway also has the enameled leather curtains which could be rolled up on fine days, and yet dropped quickly for protection if caught out in a shower. After a rain storm, the curtains were dressed with sweet or sperm-oil rubbed on with a greased rag, and with proper care, they proved durable and remained pliable for many years.
This vehicle was used particularly to take guests to and from the railway station in suburban Philadelphia, but it also served for shopping expeditions. It was built by Horace Ervien, of Ogontz, Pennsylvania.
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lippincott, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Dark green, striped with red. Trimmed with leather seat, green satin roof interior and padded seat back.
The rockaway was a popular close carriage of both the affluent and not so wealthy American family; in the year 1900, for instance, only 846 broughams (a comparable close carriage) were built as compared with 3,166 rockaways turned out that year.
This vehicle is elegantly fitted out with leather card case, as well as clock case built into the interior lining. It was used by the Wells family of Burlington, Vermont, and was a product of Kimball Brothers Company, Boston; Z. Thompson & Bros. Builders, Portland, Maine. The Wells monogram painted in red on the door panel adds an extra touch of tasteful decoration.
Body painted dark green. Trimmed in eggshell corded broadcloth, embroidered with green leaf motif on corded silk fabric.
Although in excellent condition, this rockaway is one of the older vehicles in the collection and was used prior to 1858 by Gen. J. Watson Webb. His daughter Catherine married James G. Benton of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department in 1858, and the Bentons used the rockaway when they lived in Washington, D. C. Benton, a West Point graduate, was the author of many valuable reports on ordnance and wrote the course of instruction in ordnance and gunnery used by the cadets at the U.S. military academy. Col. Benton’s experiments on a new type of rifled musket led to the development of the Springfield rifle, and he superintended the construction of the early models of this gun at the Springfield Armory where he served as commanding officer.
Gift of the Webb family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb
Natural color varnished body. Trimmed in tan cord, black leather top.
This buckboard was made by Joubert & White of Glens Falls, New York and was used by Dr. Webb in this community for many years.
The natural varnished body was a deceptively simple vehicle finish. In theCoachmaker’s Illustrated Handbook, published in 1875, the chapter on painting pointed out the hazards of the clear varnish finish: “The varnish can crawl, run, enamel, pit, blotch, sag down and hang on the lower edge; smoke or cloud over; appear as though dust had been dredged on it through a piece of fine mull, or gather up and hang in heavy ridges or beads along the center part of the spokes and other carriage parts. These irregularities will happen with the best quality of varnish and with workmen of undoubted skill, and are caused by atmospheric influences alone.” The English varnish was preferred by carriage painters, for they believed it possessed a secret ingredient which made it the finest available at that time.
Gift of the Webb family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb
Natural varnished body, yellow gear striped in black. Trimmed in brown corduroy.
This buckboard was used by the Webb children and was pony-drawn. It was made by J. B. Dubuc who was the Shelburne town blacksmith, and whose smithy is now located at the museum, having been moved to the grounds in January of 1956 from its location next to the railroad tracks.
Dubuc came to Shelburne in 1869 from Canada and with his capital of $55 and his trade as a blacksmith set himself up in business. He was the owner of a livery stable, paint shop, harness and carriage shop and operated the meat market here in Shelburne as a sideline. Retiring when his health failed, he took an active part in town affairs, serving as school director and town library treasurer.
Gift of the Webb family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb
These two photos were taken at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, Vermont in the early 1890’s.
Top photo shows J. Watson Webb (holding the reins) and W. Seward Webb, Jr., sons of Dr. and Mrs. Webb in the pony buckboard.]
Lower photo shows Vanderbilt Webb, the other son of Dr. and Mrs. Webb with his dogs and the family coachman sitting in front of one of Dr. Webb’s buggies.]
Body painted black; gear painted red. Trimmed in brown leather.
The true buckboard has been defined as a light four-wheeled vehicle in which the body and springs are replaced by long, elastic boards, supported at the ends directly by the axles. The driver’s comfort, as well as that of his passengers, depended upon the resiliency of the boards themselves, and the buckboard proved a far more comfortable vehicle for long trips than might be expected.
This buckboard was used at the Kildare Club in the Adirondacks in the 1880’s. After this club was sold, the buckboard was used at Nehasane, in Hamilton County, New York, a game preserve and hunting camp owned by Dr. W. Seward Webb.
Gift of Mr. J. Watson Webb, Shelburne, Vermont.
Body and gear in natural varnish finish. Trimmed with black leather.
Single and double buckboards are often found, but this triple buckboard is considered a rare example. It was made for Dr. E. D. Ferguson of Troy, New York about 1885 to his order in Glens Falls, New York. It descended to his grandson, the little boy sitting with his mother in the rear seat of the buckboard in the old photo below, who gave it to the museum in 1953.
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Everard Childs, Manchester, Vermont