Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-17
rHR CARE OF CARRIAGES.
instruction for their Washing, Cleaning
and Preservation

The following suggestions and directions
for the care and preservation of carriages
are given in the Carriage Journal, and will
be found helpful and valuable to owners OF
such vehicles
In washing the carriage it must be FIRST
stripped OF all fittings, such as cushions,
carpets, etc. the aprons and head IN.
folded, and all the trimmings liable TO be
wet protected as much as possible. Water
should be applied TO the panels by hose,
until the mud is entirely removed. Where
continuous supply OF water Is not availa-
bio, small force pump may be used with
advantage to project the water on to the
panels. In default of this instrument,
pail or watering can should be used, and
water thrown copiously over the wheels and
undercarriage; when large sponge, Eatu-
rated with water, is squeezed over the pan
els, tie mud softens and disappears harm
lesaly. It is essential that the sponge be
squeezed, not rubbed, over the panels
Great care should be taken to avoid driv-
ing water into the body and damaging the
lining.
The mud or dust being removed, proceed
az follows Wash the roof or head of the
BODY first. wipe it with chsmois leather
continue by washing the dasher and aprons,
which are folded after being wiped dry
then the seat borders, floor cloth, wings
and cover of steps. The body should next
be washed for this it is well to have a
special sponge and chamOis leather water
should be used plentifully for every part
of the carriage but above all for the pan
els. Every part of the body should be
carefully wiped dry. The under part and
wheels are washed last; each wheel must
be raised with setter, cleansed with
sponge and plenty of water, and carefully
dried, The spoke brush should be pro-
hibited in the coach house and never used
under any circumstances. In conjunction
With the dirt from the road, it acts like
sand paper on the varnish, which it quickly
scratches and then destroys the painting,
the handle OF the brush assisting in the
work Of destruction. The spoke brush is
unnecessary for washing a carriage
sponge and an abundant supply of water
are equally effective, and are free from its
disadvantages.
Brass and plated mountings are the most
difficult parts to clean no acids or pig.
ments of corrosive nature should be en-
pioyed, or, at least, only if used with the
utmost care and when the mountings are
furnished with verdigris. All polishing
liquids" and "metallic powders" burn or
scratch the leather aud varnish, with which
they are cure TO come in contact Careful
coachmen keep the brass or plated mount
ings clean by frequently and energetically
rubbing them with wooden rag, or small
channels leather, and, when spotted, they
L. hefa or r,oarlxy
palpable powder, to avoid scratching. The
mountings so treated should be washed
with a smal sponge before again rubbing
with q dry rag Beads, caps, handles
should all be treated in this manner. To
clean the lamps properly, they should De
removed from the carriage a little whiten.
ing mixed with spirits of wine should be
applied to the plated insides and refectors
this, when dry, is rubbed off with soft
rag, leaving Il brilliant polish the lamp
should then be busted with soft brush,
used exclusively for this purpose. Written
ing and spirits of wine may be used with
advantage for all silver plated mountings.
The polished parts may be kept little
greaHy, and when necessary cleaned with
burnlsher, or otherwise. There is, how.
ever, very little polished work about most
carriages.
Heads, aprons, dash boards, wings, ETC.,
are generally of enamelled or japsnned
leather some few carriages, however, have
heads and aprons Of oil leather. So long
as this leather is new it should simply be
washed, but as soon as it commences to
harden light coating of pure neatsfoot oil
should be applied in order TO soften it.
After allowing sufficient time for the oil to
penetrate, the leather should be carefully
wiped and brushed, to prevent it soiling or
damaginganything with which it may come
in contact. Enameled leather does not
require 60 much attention washing 1t in
an ordinary way and carefully wiping it is
sufficient, but if from any cause it should
become greasy little soap with cold water
will remove the grease; should the leather
become spotted, use little linseed oil and
wadding, as when removing stains from
panels. The durability of any kind of
leather depends especiallyon the care taken
in the coach house; whether a carriage is
covered up or not, the aprons should be
unfolded and stretched out the head
should never be allowed to remain open, as
the leather when folded together is apt to
stick or crack. In any case, leather should
never be allowed to remain IN contact with
a panel-the two will invariable become
glued together, necessitsting the renewal
of the leather or the revarnishing or re-
painting of the panel. 1t is also advisable,
when carriage is to remain for some time
in the eoaoh house, to slightly strike the
head Joints, still keeping the head up, as
this, by removing the strain on the leather,
allows it to fold easily and closely when the
head Is oDened
To keep the lining of carriage fresh,
as much care should be taken against damp
as against dust. Cloth and all kind of ma
terial must be well brushed, the carpets
shaken, the cushions and stages beaten,
etc. Cats, so often necessary in a coach
house, are apt to enter the carriage and
sleep on the cushions the windows should
therefore be carefully closed, especially
during the night, and the cover should be
arranged so as to prevent these animals
from entering the carriage. Morocco is
easily cleansed with a moist chamois and
soft rag. Carriages with half heads have
frequently, in addition to the usual coach
house cover, kind of curtain stretched
from the head TO the apron, and called
"cat guard" A carriage closed in this way
must be frequently well aired, otherwise
mold will appear wherever paste is used
in the lining is, the broadlace, cloth
on glass frames, curtains, seat falls, etc.