REPAIRS.
The Expense of Keeping a Carriage in Repair is regulated very much by the original quality thereof—by the Work it has done—the Work it does, and the Care taken of it.
The Work it does may, in some measure, be computed by the wear of its Wheels, and its Appearance.
It is in a Carriage as in many other mechanical structures, that, in order to Repair it, it must be taken to pieces; and the taking to pieces and putting together again, costs more than the Repair itself, and thus the charges for trifling things appear enormous. The expense of unhanging, taking to pieces, putting together, and re-hanging, is the same in small as in large Repairs: some Coachmakers copiously mention in their bills every circumstance of the Job, almost to the number of turns of the screws, or blows of the hammer, with aconstant repetition of driving out—driving in—taking off—putting on—unscrewing—screwing—nailing—unnailing—unhanging and re-hanging, &c. &c. &c., which sometimes seems to be done only to confound the charge for the Job with so many different matters as to make it perfectly incomprehensible.
To the above we have actually seen added, when the Carriage was taken to the Coachmaker’s to have any little Job done, “To Washing and Cleaning, 3s.6d.”—although the Coachman assured us that the Carriage was clean when he took it, and that he found it dirty when he went to fetch it home.
We refer the Reader to the
CAUTIONS ON REPAIRING CARRIAGES,
which are given inpage 60of this Work.
A Carriage cannot be taken to pieces and put together, by the most careful and skilful Workman, without in some degree diminishing both the Beauty and Strength of the Machinery; therefore, when it is asunder, order that every part that appears defective be made good,that the repetition of such separation may occur as seldom as possible, not only to avoid Expense, but the Inconvenience of being without your Carriage while the Repairs are going on, which take longer time than people expect, who do not consider that New Timbers, Iron work, &c. require Painting and Varnishing, which must have at some seasons of the Year a considerable time to dry thoroughly hard.
When any of the main Timbers begin to decay, the greater part may be supposed to be in a similar state; failures then become frequent, and it is prudent to have the whole that is decayed renewed at once—which will not only be Safest, but will save much Expense and Trouble.
Mem.Be extremely cautious of alteringany part of a Carriage—if you alter one part, it often becomes necessary to alter many other parts, and a trifling Expense becomes a very heavy one.
Mem.The Carriages commonly lent by common Coachmakerswhile they are repairing a Carriage, are sometimes so extremely old and ricketty, that it is not only disagreeable, but dangerous to ride in them;—insist upon having a good effective Vehicle, or go to another Coachmaker; therefore,before you send a Carriage to be repaired, desire the Coachmaker to let you see the Carriage which he intends to lend you during the time your own is repairing: this accommodation he ought to give you, if you are a constant customer, without making any charge for the use thereof.
Have an Estimate in Writing, particularly specifying every thing that is to be done, and the whole Expense for which he will undertake to make perfect every Repair that is wanting, without any subsequent extra charge, and the Time in which he will do so. I again repeat, that it is the cheapest and best plan ToJoba Carriage as well as Horses. SeeEstimates, No. 4 and No. 9.
Desire your Coachman to be continually on the Watch, and to immediately acquaint you of the least injury which the Carriage may sustain; for the immediate repair thereof, is equally advisable, bothfor your Economy, and for his own Safety.
The chief parts that wear, are the Timber works of the Carriage part, and these fail more frequently than you may expect—either from decay, faulty wood, or being too light made, and sometimes from Accident or Violence, which may be judged of when they are taken asunder.
TheBodyrequires Repair much less frequently than theCarriage, because it is placed on Springs in as easy a manner as possible, and therefore not shook about so violently as the Carriage part; but thebest plan is to have Springs under the Carriage fixed on the Axle-tree: Carriages so mounted last three times as long as those on the old construction, and are extremely desirable from so seldom requiring separation.
UNDER SPRINGS
Are strongly recommended. They afford the following advantages:—there is no occasion for the Coachman’s seat to beattached to the Body, nor extra Springs for the same, which are a nuisance from their Noise and continually requiring Repairs:—the Coachman’s seat, to an Underspring Carriage, is bolted on a Budget, and fixed to the Carriage on a pair of Carved Blocks, the Body hanging free:—the additional expense is from £20. to £30.; but we have been told they save full an hundred and fifty pounds in the wear of a Carriage;—but remember, that althoughUnder Springsare easy to the Carriage, they are not so to the Carried, especially those whose top half is aDummy,i. e.made of wood, which is used for cheapness. My last Chariot, which has such Springs, jerks and jumps about as much as a rough Trotting Horse, affording fineAnti-biliousExercise for those in tolerable Health, but is intolerably agitating to an Invalid!!