Practical Carriage Building

By: Richardson, M. T.

Book Overview

This combined reprint of Volumes 1 and 2 of the 1892 edition of Practical Carriage Building is perhaps the most complete and accurate contemporary work on the subject. It covers in great depth, and with many illustrations, the materials and tools used, the making and repairing of wheels, the making of carriage parts and their assembly, framing and construction, axles, yokes, whiffletrees, patterns and layouts, and many other useful and fascinating subjects. All sorts of carriages are discussed: buggies, cabriolets and broughams, phatons, rockaways, as well as sleighs and sleds, and express, delivery, and farm wagons. A definitive, easy to follow reference on this early trade that is now enjoying a well-deserved renaissance.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1879335506
• ISBN13: 9781879335509
• Release Date: May 1994
• Publisher: Astragal Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Does what it says on the cover

If like me, you are looking for a book that will actually give you the constructional information you need to build or repair a cart or carriage this is the book to get. The collected wisdom of the old craftsman in their own words, not scholarly ruminations that give little or no practical help to those few of us who want to keep alive the craft.

The only way such a book should be written!

This book encompasses multiple perspectives on aspects of carriage building. If you want to restore a carriage or build an authentic carriage from scratch, this is the ONE book you must have. Topics of discussion include rebuilding wheels and hubs; proper caster and camber of wheels and axles; appropriate lumber for different areas of construction; how to pick a good tree for the right lumber and many, many, MANY more.

Very complete except for technical information on hubs.

Would highly recommend this book as a first time purchase, is excellent as far as technical information as to building the wheel, but lacks specific information about building and turning the hub for the wheel.