Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-05
From a London paper.
NEW STEAM CARRIAGE.


We have just had opportunity of examin-
ing steam carriage which has lately been con-
structed, in the most private manner, under the
direction Of Mr.. Quincy, OF 4Argye-street, and
which is now SO near its completion, that
brief description oil it, while it cannot Tail TO in
terest the public, TO whose notice it is on the
point of being presented, will scarcely be con-
sidered as unfair or injurious to the proprietor
by giving premature publicity to his lngenl-
Gus and original invention
Considering the great weight, and unwieldy
character generally of ordinary steam machine
ry, perhaps the most remarkable particular
connected with Mr. Gurney's new carriage, and
that which will strike the observer with, most
surprise, is the extraordinary hghtness and ele-
gance of its external appearance. Looking at
it with reference 10 the ordinary carriage at
present in use among US, its appearance IS
something between that Of the regular mail and
the common Telegraph stage-coach. Indeed
it more nearly resembles those light carriages
which are at present driven four-in-hand, by
our young bloods in the Parks and about town,
than any other vehicle with which we are &C
qusinted.
The body of it is not larger-it has the same
kind of fore anu hind boot, the same sized box,
dickev, &C. And what is still more remarka-
bic, it has, so far as relates to all the above par
ticulars, nothing belonging to it in appearance,
which can distinguish il from one Of the above
carrlages-nothing which they have not, or
which can indicate that il is intended to be
moved in any other than the ordinary manner
On looking however, before Mr.. Gurney's car
riage, al that spot which is in culinary carriages
occupied by the pole, sc. and also beneath 1t,
we perceive in what it differs outwardly from
Others Immediately in front, at about or 8
fnet in advance ofthe fore wheels, Is placed an
oblong box or boot, with single wheel beneath
it, and dickey seat above il, out OF which rises
high pillar And underneath the body OF the
carriage are several other pieces of machinery.
1t is not by means of these objects that the car
riape is moved, by the intervention of steam, &
on the ordinarily understood principles of that
power, but by contrivances and arrangements,
that appear to be altogether, new, since the
whole weight OF this machinery for getting and
applying the required steam, amounts to but
one-iwentieth part of that which has hitherto
been considered as necessary, and without this
relative weight of machinery no successful at
tempt has vet been made to apply steam Pratlcal
" to the arts of life The steam machinery attach
ed to this carriage is estimated to possess what
IS Cailed an elght morse power, q yot the "eiS''e
Of the whole, including the cylinders (of
which there are two instead of one) amounts 10
little more than about FIVE hundred pounds
Whereas the ordinary weight of the machine
ry hitherto required TO generate the above men
toned power, is not less than six tons. he
diminished bulk is also in proportion to the
diminished weight. With respect to the ar
rangement of this machinery in Mr.. Gurney's
carriage, the boiler is contained in the oblong
box or boot, which we have described as placed
in advance of the carrirge itself--one on either
side the perch. Thus all the ordinary parts OF
the vehicle are left for the purpose to which
they are applied in ordinary carriages--the IN
terror and The hind and tore dickies for passen-
gers, and the hind and fore boots for luggage,
&c. But one Of the principal novelties IN this