Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-09-05
Shoddy Carrlag es.

OF all the evils that threaten to
ruin the carriage business in many
portions of the United States. the
manufacturing Of shoddy Carriages
is among the greatest While the
manufacturers of this class of work
are inclined to practic dishonesty
and chicanery of all kinds,
the dealers are q set of unprincipled
sconndrels who work upon the cre-
du!ity of unsuspoctlng men, deceiv-
ing them by false representa- tons
and fragrant lies. In considering
this subject, we shall first glance at
tho manner in which shoddy vehi-
clio is gotten up. Wero we TO simply
sum up its construction, sentence
would suffice but proposing to do
more, we shall examine tho material
without paying further attention to
the proprietor.
In tho construction of wheels the
timber undergoes many assortings.
First the lot is cnlled of the very
best material for the A A wheels.
Then in successive assortings the
timber is selected for A, y and C
wheels, their quality and price being
designated by the letter which repre-
sents the class to which they belong.
There is now remaining the material
that forms the makeup IF shoddy
wheel. The cross-grained, knotted,
knarled, checked, hubs, spokes and
rims that are fit for nothing but fuel,
are thrown together by the cheapes.
process and the poorest labor, and
sold to the shoddy builder for 4
mere trifie in advance OF the bare
expenses of making, the worthless
stock being thrown in. The gear
ings are made by the wholesale on
the same principle, while the marked
price Of dozen pairs OF shafts would
hardly be equal to that asked for one
good serviceable pair.
The bodies are of prison origin or
the products OF toll ground down to
successfully compete with pauper
labor. Nails are used In place of
screws while glue and canvas are
found TO be unnecessary. The iron
is tho poorest malleable and those
parts that are forged are coarse and
poorly made. Great economy is
practiced in the painting, both 10 the
number OF the coats aud the labor.
The motto, snake it shine" is the
only one that il strictly observed.
The trimming is the fimslest of
shoddy, stuffed with hay, straw, or
common shavlngs, not excelsior.
This is the makc-up of tho shoddy
vehicle. Many call this class "cheap
work." We do notion the contrary.
they are dear, very dear at any price.
This shoddy work is annually cost.
ing our carriage builders of estab-
lished reputation, who are in no wise
interested 10 it's manufacture, thou.
sands of dollars, without furnishing
a fair equivalent to the purchaser.
OF all obstacles and drawbacks with
which the American carriage builder
has to contend, this manufa cturing
and placing shoddy carriages on the
market is the most disastrous and
productive of the greatest mischief.
1t is the gangrene that will, unless
checked, demoralize the whole trade
of many and especially of the small.
or shops.
Just how a warfare should be COM
menced and successfully prosecuted
in order to use up entirely this dis
honest branch of the carriage indus
try, is q subject requiring much
thought and careful consideration.
1t cannot be attacked in the same
manner as any othcr fraud, as there
are no grounds for the application of
legal measures. In fact we have no
other alternative than to follow the
line of action laid down in an anec.
dote once related by Abraham Lin
coin.
A farmer in the far West had one
Of his broad fields disfigured by an
immense tree which had blown down.
Some visitors calling upon him in
quired what he proposed to do with
the tree. "'Well," said he, sthat tree
has caused me considerable perplex-
ity. 1t is so green that l can't burn
it, it would take ten pairs of oxen to
drag it off. and | have only one pair,
and if take the time necessary to
dig hole to bury it in it will make
me late with my Spring blowing. l
have therefore concluded to pillow
around it and let it rot.''
This we think is tho only measure
that can be brought to pear on this
evil. We can s'plow around it,"
showing up the dishonesty and trick.
cry practiced by shoddy builders.
This with the support of all who are
Interested in the production of good
work, will prove powerful agents for
the suppression of the evil.
Wisdom should be exercised in the
dissemination of that knowledge
which will educate. not only the
builders of carriages (for they are
generally informed of the tricks
practiced by shoddy builders, and
dealers who sell directly to the user)
but the consumer should be taught
what constitutes good carriage,
and should have the character of
the material used in a carriage of
this description impressed firmly on
his mind. In this manner nv hay.