Practical Carriage Building

I did not realize that this book was originally written in 1892. It is written for people who have a full understanding of carriages and how they were built. What I wanted was something that would help me build a wagon as a novice. This is not the book for that. The diagrams have very little use in today's world. I wanted a blue print or diagram to allow me to build with full dimentions and instructions. This is like an owner's manual for a rocketship to someone that has never heard of space travel. I am totaly disappointed.

This book really is not going to teach you how to build a carriage or carriage body.It is more or less a random selection of pamphlets addressing some very specific aspect of wheel or carriage building.This is not a how-to book, but more of a historical reprint.

This book is a two volume set in one book. Unless I was learning to be a wheelwright using 19th century technology (Volume 1 - first half of the book) or was learning to be a wheelwright using 19th century technology (Volume 2 - a large part of the lead in to Vol 2 is a condensed version of the data from Vol 1) I would not recommend this book. Vol 2 does go into the building of wagon bodies and fith wheels which could be of use to modelers or restorers, but having said that, I think there are much better sources for primary data available for general wagon construction.This book is a reprint of information published over 100 years ago.As an historical reference to "how it was done back in the day", the book is interesting. Depending on what you would need the infomation for, this could be a very good reference. For my needs, I found it lacking.

I am so loving it! A great insight into the wheelwrights' craft from the late 19th century. I'm just getting started reading it, but the info so far is outstanding.

If you are interested in carriages and wagons, or maybe trying to repair one, this is a good book to have on hand.

This book is truly a classic... It gives a detailed description from start to Finnish how to build a horse carriage. It does use the traditional ways and tools.

Book has lots of detailed data on the building of carts in the olden days. It would have been even better if it would have had a cross reference on how to build carts with today's techniques.

I had hoped for more of a blueprint type of book. This reads in old English? Hard to understand and not at all satisfied.

Excellent book extremely good value

I've wanted this book for years, it took a long time to find it and get it. If you want just academic knowledge or wish to actually build wagons, this is the book! I have been interested in the technology and techniques of building wagons for decades; building a few, but never being able to actually completely make it accurate. I was ALWAYS missing wagon wheel construction techniques. Many of the books I own tend to gloss over that or to refer you to "wheel-boxes" that contained pre-made bearing sets, almost as hard to find as the math needed to calculate the hub, spoke, and tire arrangement.I'm a firm believer that we need to safeguard these ability for future generations, they are getting lost fast!