ESTIMATE No. IX.
DESCRIPTION OF AND ESTIMATE FOR A HANDSOME TOWN CHARIOT.
A Chariot built with the very best Materials and of the best Workmanship,—the Body made with convex sides, lined with fine cloth and silk lace, and lace Footman’s holders, Morocco head Cushions and Squabs, colour of Lace Cloth and Morocco, &c. to choice: handsome Venetian Blinds, best lute-string Spring Curtains, double folding steps trimmed with black Spanish Leather, lined with Cloth, and concealed in Doors; best Brussels Carpet to the bottom of Body, and Steps and Oak seat box.
The Body hung on a Carriage with compass perch, best Town-made Springs and Iron work; the Wood work of Carriage beaded and carved; Axle-trees turned and case hardened with solid pipe boxes; Wheels with the best seasonedAsh felleys, and Patent hoop-tire rivetted: Barouche Dickey Coach Box set on a Boot and attached to the Carriage by handsome Iron Work, and made to take off in case of travelling; trimmed with the best patent Leather borders, and lined with Cloth; large splashing Iron in front of Body, covered with double patent leather; Mail Lamps; brass moulding to Body; Swage Door handles; the Body, Carriage, and Wheels painted to fancy; Arms painted in ornamented shields on Doors; and the best plate Glasses to Windows; the whole made of the best materials, and finished in the most complete manner,
The Coachmaker will keep the above Carriageand Harness in Repair, and find Wheels, &c. for four Years, for £10. per Annum: this, at the end of that time, would make its expense £381. 15s., and it might then be worth about £100.; so that if you purchase, it will cost at least £70. per Annum, besides the Interest of the Money advanced: moreover, you will have more than common luck, if you get £100. for it at the end of Four Years.
If such a Chariot, with its appendages and Harness, as explained in the above Estimate, be taken on a Job, (the longer the period you hire it for, the less will be the annual charge,) for Four Years, the charge is about £84. per Annum. It is not advisable to agree to take a Carriage for a longer period than it will look well without being repainted, &c. After three or four Years, Carriages that are in continual use require to go into Dock for a thorough repair.
A Landaulettor a Landau is charged £10. per Annum more.
A Landauis a Carriage in the form of a Coach, the upper part of which may be opened for the advantage of air and prospect inSummer time, and is principally intended for Country use, and is the most convenient Carriage of any, as so many persons may be accommodated with the pleasure of an Open and a Close Carriage in one, without the care of Driving, as in other Open Carriages, or the expense and incumbrance of keeping Two.
A Landau or Landaulettis not only more expensive to build, but more troublesome to keep nicely clean; and its Leather Roof much sooner wears shabby, than the Japanned Roof of a Coach or Chariot.
Nota Bene.It is customary for the Builder to warrant his Work for the first Twelvemonths, and to undertake to make good all failures happening within that time, which arise from the Timber or Iron work’s breaking, but not those decays which necessarily follow from reasonable use and wear, or damages by Accident. However, to prevent all Misunderstanding, insert the following lines in your Contract for Building:—also, that “after the Carriage has been out about two or three months, and the Varnish has got thoroughlydry, the Builder shall Polish it free of further expense.” This process can be performed much better after a few months have elapsed, than it can when the carriage first comes out, as the Varnish is not then sufficiently hardened.—SeeCautions on Building Carriages, at p. 65 et seq. of this Work.
TO JOB OR HIRE A CARRIAGE
Is the most convenient and cheapest way of proceeding.
Carriages are usually hired for such a time as they may be expected to last in Fashion, that is for about four or five years.
A One Horse Chaisewith Two Wheels may be jobbed for £20. to £40. per Annum.
A Four Wheel Chaisefrom £30. to £50.
The present charge for the hire of a Coach or Chariot, (see Estimate No. IX.), Landau or Landaulett, and Harness, per Annum, is from £60. to £100. One year of which is paid in advance.
Coachmakers will build a New Carriage for this purpose, and finish it to your own fancy;exactly the same as if you were to purchase it, and will paint it at the end of two or three years, if you hire it for a longer period.
Persons who constantly require the use of a Carriage will do wisely toHire, and not for a longer period than Three or Four Years. The frequent Repairs which are constantly wanting to Older Carriages, occasion many Inconveniences, although the expenses of them are avoided by Hiring.
Carriages are never better built than those which are made expressly to be let on a Job. A Coachmaker takes care to choose materials and workmen of the best kind for his own sake, to avoid those subsequent charges, which, as has been observed before, constitute the evil of inferior Carriages.
Mem.In the Agreement for Hiring, stipulate for the option of purchasing the Carriage at the end of the First Year, at a certain Sum,i. e.if the original price was £300., and you paid £80. per Annum, for £220.After a Year’s wear, you will be able to see pretty clearly what kind of a Carriage you have got, and whether it is worth purchasing.
Harnessis usually engaged with the Carriage, which is kept in Wheels and all Repairs, excepting those which are required from Accidents.
When Carriages are let by the Year, the following engagement is usually entered into by the contracting Parties:—
COPY OF AGREEMENT.
Articles of Agreement made and entered into this 13th Day of April, 1826, between A. B., Gent., ofinthe county ofonthe one part, and C. D., Coachmaker, ofinthe county ofonthe other; and this certifies that the said C. D. doth agree to build, and preserve in good and substantial repair, a Carriage with Harness for the use of the said A. B. until the full expiration of Four Years, from the date hereof, after the following manner:—(here is to be inserted the manner in which the Carriage is to be built, see Estimate No. IX., with all the particulars of keeping the same in repair, the time of New Painting, New Green silk Blinds, Hammerclothing, &c.):—to furnish NewWheels when the said A. B. desires them, and to supply him with a good Chariot while this is repairing—and that A. B. shall have the option of purchasing the said Carriage and Harness at the end of the first Year for the sum of.In consideration whereof the said A. B. doth agree to pay, or cause to be paid, to the said C. D. the sum ofannually;the First Year’s payment on the receipt of the said Carriage and Harness, the Second on the commencement of the Second Year, and each Year’s hire to be paid in advance; and at the expiration of the Four Years, the said Carriage with Harness to be returned to the said C. D. with Glasses whole, and every part of the said Carriage and Harness complete and whole, excepting such deficiencies as may be expected from reasonable use and wear, provided always, and on condition, that if the said A. B. shall, during the said term of four Years, pay the said C. D. the sum of thirty Guineas, and give up the said Chariot and Harness complete, then this Agreement shall be void, any thing to the contrary notwithstanding.In witness hereof, each party hath set their hands and Seals this day ofA. B.C. D.Witness, F. G.
Articles of Agreement made and entered into this 13th Day of April, 1826, between A. B., Gent., ofinthe county ofonthe one part, and C. D., Coachmaker, ofinthe county ofonthe other; and this certifies that the said C. D. doth agree to build, and preserve in good and substantial repair, a Carriage with Harness for the use of the said A. B. until the full expiration of Four Years, from the date hereof, after the following manner:—(here is to be inserted the manner in which the Carriage is to be built, see Estimate No. IX., with all the particulars of keeping the same in repair, the time of New Painting, New Green silk Blinds, Hammerclothing, &c.):—to furnish NewWheels when the said A. B. desires them, and to supply him with a good Chariot while this is repairing—and that A. B. shall have the option of purchasing the said Carriage and Harness at the end of the first Year for the sum of.
In consideration whereof the said A. B. doth agree to pay, or cause to be paid, to the said C. D. the sum ofannually;the First Year’s payment on the receipt of the said Carriage and Harness, the Second on the commencement of the Second Year, and each Year’s hire to be paid in advance; and at the expiration of the Four Years, the said Carriage with Harness to be returned to the said C. D. with Glasses whole, and every part of the said Carriage and Harness complete and whole, excepting such deficiencies as may be expected from reasonable use and wear, provided always, and on condition, that if the said A. B. shall, during the said term of four Years, pay the said C. D. the sum of thirty Guineas, and give up the said Chariot and Harness complete, then this Agreement shall be void, any thing to the contrary notwithstanding.
In witness hereof, each party hath set their hands and Seals this day of
A. B.C. D.Witness, F. G.
This agreement must be on a Stamp, or Stamped within fourteen days; or if a question arise, and it should come into Court, the Stamping then would cost £20.