Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-07
CONCORD COACH
GIFT OF ACTORS
Fred Stone and Will Rogers
Present Smithsonian With
1925 Model.

One Of the few remaining stage
coaches of the period of 1925, the
handiwork of the famous coachmakers
of Concord, N. H., has been presented
to the Smithsonian Institution by Fred
Stone, the actor, and Will Rogers, the
cowboy humorist.
The coach was set up yesterday In
the land transport hall Of the old
Museum Building. It was delivered
earlier in the day, having been brought
from San Francisco on the United
States transport st. Mihiel by the
Quartermaster Corps. Will Rogers gave
the coach to his friend Fred Stone
some time ago and the actor had 1t in
his home at Beverly Hills, Calf.
Recognizing the carriage as an authen-
tic piece, officials of the institution pre-
sumed it was of the period of 1925, but
were without definite knowledge of its
pedigree until casual examination yes
terday afternoon gave hint Of its true
value as a factual commentary on
transportation progress. A nameplate
was discovered on one Of the cross
pieces in front bearing the inscription,
&c. e. Gerald, Blacksmith, Concord,
N. H." Except for leather curtains,
which are new, everything about the
carriage is thought to be just as 1t was
when retired from service. It shows
signs of wear and tear, but 1t also gives
evidence of the extreme utility of
transportation form perfected by the
Concord blacksmiths.
Fittings of Heavy Leather.
The body of the coach is swung in
straps of heavy leather and is so re-
sponsive that the slightest push gives it
the undulating motions 1t probably went
through on long, rough roads in the
old West. The fittings and upholstery
are of the heaviest leather. Symbolic
of the high degree of artistry accom-
plished by the coachmakers are the iron
steps, which bear studiouSly wrought
floral designs.
The coach is highly regarded by Of
ficials Of the Smithsonian Institution
for several reasons. chiefly because it
forms an important link in the his
torical transportation, and also because
it furnished the institution with an au-
thentic coach. Requests are numerous
for specifications Of the old coaches, and
often efforts are made to reproduce the
carriages for historical pageants, but
until now the institution has not been
able to give first-hand information
based on the object itself.
A careful effort will be made to trace
the G. E. Gerald, whose nameplate
adorns the coach, and learn where he
did business. Concord, N. f., places the
carriage in the very select circle OF
coaches, however. History records that
the blacksmiths in Concord first dis
played their handiwork 'in the middle
of the third decade" which would be
1925, and that their coaches soon sup
planted other carriages. They were used
throughout the West, and those driven
on the national highway were given
names which range throughout the wild
country with the exploits Of drivers and
horses.
Displayed by the b. q o.
This particular coach was put on
display by the Baltimore 81 Ohio Rail-
road few years ago on the occasion OF
the railroads fair of the iron horse"
celebrating the Tooth anniversary OF
the company's founding. It was adver-
tised at the time. as being an authentic
piece of the period of 1925, but 1t was
not definitely located
Fred Stone and Will Rogers we're the
recipients of long kilograms from the
Smithsonian Institution yesterday,