Wagonette

This horse-drawn wagon was designed for passenger transport. Two wooden benches along the right and left side of the wagon platform can hold up to six guests facing each other. The driver sits on a separate front facing bench. This carriage is ideal for bridal parties or small group rides.

Bronson Wagon

Developed as a light pair vehicle for use on country estates, the Bronson Wagon is marked by a paneled body finished in natural varnished wood.  It is a light vehicle accommodating four people on two seats and has a cut-under in the box. The vehicle was named by William Brewster of Brewster and Company, New York, for his friend, Frederic Bronson, at whose suggestion Brewster redesigned the double steps, making them rectangular pads hung on iron brackets.  Bronson had complained that he was always bumping his shins on ill-designed steps. The Bronson Wagon was one of the last horse-drawn vehicles designed in America.

Sociable

Formal and elegant, this sociable seats four adults easily.  In mixed company, the ladies would be offered the preferred seating facing forward and protected by the hood.  Or if only females were riding, the eldest would receive the preferential seating. Paneled doors for each entry and large fenders helped to protect clothing. The beautiful lamps on this carriage indicate that it was also used for evening outings as well. 

Park Phaeton

This lovely family vehicle pretends to greater elegance than a surrey, owing to its wicker seats and rich upholstery.  Its parasol top provides more protection from the sun than from rain, and it is removable.  Either servant- or owner-driven, this carriage would take the family on a Sunday outing to the park or chaperoned young ladies to afternoon tea.  Grooms in formal livery would be turned out in appropriate colors, and servants might be sent ahead to have food and libations ready upon arrival. 

Tor-Neau Sociable

By the end of the nineteenth century, the sociable had found favor as a lady's summer carriage for Park Driving, and was either owner-driven or coachman-driven to a pair of smartly matched horses.  Some sociables were built with a curving profile, such as this unusual cloverleaf style.  The vehicle could be entered from either side behind the driver's seat, and passengers always sat facing one another for ease of conversation. In the 1905 Columbus Buggy Company Catalog, this vehicle is listed as Vehicle order # 600.

Omnibus

In 1905, there were over 1400 Omnibuses and 17.000 horses working in London for the London General Omnibus Company.  In Paris, where this vehicle originated, most of the cabs were painted a bright yellow. The vehicle seats six to eight on the interior and five or six on the exterior with cargo room behind the roof seat.  Put to a pair of horses, usually mares of the vanner type, these omnibuses could be boarded at various stops along a twelve-mile route.  Outside passengers paid less than those who chose to ride inside. There was tremendous competition among rival firms to cover the routes at the most optimal speed.   

Clarence

Like the Brougham, the Clarence is a coachman-driven vehicle; but this larger carriage affords seating for four people, two facing forward, and two riding backward.  Fitted with lamps for evening use, it would carry a gentleman and his friends to the opera or a formal dinner party.  This larger vehicle required a pair of horses, and a footman in livery would ride next to the coachman to assist when passengers entered or exited the carriage.  He would also "head" the pair if the vehicle waited while the party enjoyed their evening's activities.  Blankets for the horses would be carried in the boot under the coachman's seat. 

Beufort Phaeton

The Duke of Beaufort, a founding member of the Coaching Club, was especially fond of coaching and social gatherings with his peers.  It is for him that this phaeton was named.  The carriage seats six people with side doors facilitating entry for ladies on the middle seat.  Grooms ride on the third seat, facing backward for easy exiting in order to assist with the horses when needed.    Sometimes known as a Hunting Phaeton, the Beaufort was considered to be a gentleman's carriage for both town and sporting use.  Put to a pair or a four-in-hand, this vehicle could also be used to exercise coach horses during the week to prepare them for pulling the larger coaches.   

Victoria

Coachbuilders responded to the demand for fashionable carriages based on the one used by Queen Victoria with many innovations of their own. This superb example has a double grand suspension of both elliptic and Cee springs for ultimate comfort.  Notice the straps attaching the body of the vehicle to the perch underneath, which prevented it from swaying too precariously.  A smaller seat for children is mounted on the back side of the dash, and it is removable. To prevent children from "hitching" a ride on the back of the carriage as it was driven through city streets, an Urchin Bar was added to the framework over the back axle. 

Stage Coach

The American style coach was popular in the American West during the days of the Gold Rush in the late 1800s. Made in Concord, New Hampshire, by Abbott and Downing Company, these rugged vehicles were shipped to Australia, South Africa, and places where roads were rugged or non-existent. English coaches sat on mail axles, and soon smashed to pieces on rough roads, but the innovative leather thoroughbrace system perfected by Abbott and Downing allowed the coach box to sway as the vehicle bounced along. Both city and long-distance coaches were made.  This one was designed for city work, as evidenced by extra space on top to carry luggage rather than passengers.  All Concord coaches were brightly painted with the names of their destinations and often had lovely murals depicting the areas they served.  The Austin Stage Line sports scenes of Florida's lovely beaches and golf courses. 

Calech

This elegant town carriage required the service of well-schooled postillion riders able to handle high spirited, superb horses to match the grandeur of the formal work to which it was put.  The lovely silk brocade upholstered seats accommodate four passengers sitting vis-à-vis, or facing one another.  If only two passengers are riding, the back of the front seat folds downward to protect the interior.  A substantial hood covers the occupants of the rear seat and can be folded down when weather permits.  One groom in full livery rides on the seat behind, ready to assist the passengers entering or leaving the vehicle.

Park Drag

This is the lighter of two Healey coaches in the museum with 10 spokes in the front wheels and 12 in the rear wheels. Though lighter in weight, it appears much the same size as its counterpart with 12 spokes in the front and 14 in the rear. This is sometimes thought to be a more appropriate size and weight for a lady to drive. Every part of this coach is branded with its serial number # 1462, including its wooden ladder. Most appropriately, a park drag would have an iron ladder; but wood helped to lighten the overall weight of this coach. Even the perch and lead bars are substantially lighter than its sister coach. Several features on this coach lead one to believe that it was made in Great Britain and marketed in America under a US manufacturer's name. It has hexagonal hub caps (common to European carriages), a brake shoe on the left (common to English coaches), and a brake lever that pushes rather than pulls on, which was most common in the Americas.

Golden Carriage

Made by the coachbuilder Armbruster in the early 1840's for Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, this wonderful ceremonial vehicle was used by the Royal Family as they traveled about the streets of Vienna to greet their constituents.  The vehicle seats two occupants, facing forward.  As there are no handles on the doors' interior, communication with the coachman was via a pull string which attached to a button on the back of his coat.  Footmen walked beside or stood on the platform at the rear of the vehicle and were ready to assist the Royals as they entered or exited the vehicle.  Steps fold down from the interior.  The stunning hammercloth over the driver's seat is of silk velvet, decorated with 210 hand turned, hand covered gold bullions.  Over 150 meters of gold cables further adorn the cloth.  The great seal of the Austrian Empire superimposed with the personal crest of the Hapsburg family completes the presentation.