THE AXLE-TREES
Are formed of wrought Iron, and are the chief support of
The Carriage11.
Four Wheeled Carriages are divided into two parts, theUpperandUnder Carriage.
The Upperis the main one, on which the Body is hung.
The Under Carriageis the conductor, and is turned by means of the Pole which acts on a centre-pin, called thePerch Bolt, which goesthrough the fore Axle-tree bed and fore transom, and secures the fore or under Carriage to the Upper one.
The Hind Wheels are placed on theUpper, the Fore Wheels on theUnder Carriage.
The utmost care should be taken to have every part made of goodTown made Iron Work well wrought, and sound Wood well seasoned, and of sufficient strength, rather going to the extreme in thickness, than risking the lives of the Passengers by the oversetting of the Carriage, which often happens when an Axle-tree or a Perch, &c. breaks.
The Common Axle-treeis that which is in general use, it being much the cheapest, a pair of the best case hardened costing only £9. 9s.
Collinge’s Axleshave many advantages, which more than compensate the higher first charge for them, which is £28. 7s., but they wear so much longer, and the silent and steady motion they preserve to the Wheels, and the convenience of retaining Oil enough to travel a Journey of 30 Miles a day for 9 Months, that is, above 7,500 Miles, (i. e.if the Carriage does travel every day)without replenishing with Oil: the Common Axle will hardly travel 100 Miles without requiring the Wheels to be taken off and greased.
In the ordinary Town Work—say, on an average, about 10 Miles a day, Oiling twice a Year is enough:Mr. Collingesends a person to do this, and charges 2s.for each Wheel; if a new Leather Washer is wanted, 1s.6d.is charged for each: these are rarely required oftener than once in nine months.
Moreover, the Wheels are much better secured, and the draught of the Carriage is very much lessened.
Keep theWinchwhich fastens on the axle-cap in your own possession, or some curious or clumsy person may unscrew it, and let out the Oil.
“Collinge’s Axlesare much more safe and secure, for they have Two Collars and Two Nuts, which screw different ways, and a linch-Pin, and a Cap which screws on over all.”—A. E.
A person who was formerly employed in Mr. Collinge’s Manufactory, told me, that with allthe evident advantages of these Axle-trees, they were not such general favourites with some Coachmen as might be expected, which, for a long time, he could not any how account for—till the unaccountable cause was accidentally discovered in the two following instances.
A Coachman to a Gentleman who had Collinge’s Axles, was continually abusing them, and at length got himself discharged:—the workman met him some time after, and said, “Well, my Friend, I cannot imagine why you were such a determined enemy to our Axles, which save you a vast deal of Trouble, for they don’t need Oiling more than twice a Year; and I cannot conceive why you preferred your Common Axles, which required taking to pieces and greasing, &c. once or twice in a Week! Now, as you have left your place, and it cannot injure You, and may very greatly serve Me, pray be so good as to tell me, why you so furiously opposed our Axles?” “Why, sir,” replied Mr. Coachman, “the fact is, that what you have stated as so great an advantage in your Axles, was a great Dis-advantage to me: you know that my late Master,Mr.Rusticate, used every week to go to his Country House, which is 30 miles from Town: this gave me an opportunity of charging him 1s.6d.for extra Grease, which did not cost me 2d.; therefore, your Axles were a dead loss of £4. a year to me!!!”
He informed me that another unconquerable opponent was the servant of a Gentleman who had a new Carriage every five years, and who gave the Old one to his Coachman:—now, as Collinge’s Axles will wear out three or four Carriages, they were taken away from the Old Carriage and put to the New one,—which made it a less valuable perquisite to the Coachman in the direct ratio of the worth of a set of Common Axles.
“When you Build a Carriage, have Collinge’s Axles;”—but remember, it is not sufficient that you order the Builder to put inPatent Axles, for some of the imitations of Collinge’s Axles are called Patent Axles; and as they are got up cheap, some Coachmakers, unless you positively desire them to go toCollinge’s Manufactory, (near the Marsh-gate Turnpike, in the WestminsterBridge Road), will, to put a pound in their own pocket, recommend theSham Patents.
Mr. Jervissays, that he has actually seen them put down in the Bill under the Appellation of, and charged at the Price of, “Collinge’s Patent Axles.”