IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GUIDING OR REINING-IN CARRIAGE HORSES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
CARRIAGES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GUIDING OR REINING-IN CARRIAGE
HORSES."-A communication from abroad by Isaac M. Singer, of New
York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 11th January 1860, and dated the 17th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th August 1859.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery.
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF CARRIAGES; AND IN APPARATUS FOR GUIDING OR REINING-IN CARRIAGE
HORSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the production of a carriage mainly intended for
family use, which shall have within a small compass a larger number of inside
seats than is commonly found in carriages, the same being so arranged that

page_text: the persons sitting on them can conveniently converse. This result is obtained
in a manner that will admit of placing the centre of gravity of the whole
structure sufficiently low for convenience and safety in travelling on common
roads, and ensure symmetry in the general structure, while at the same time,
inside seats for children and servants, and suitable receptacles for all the
necessary conveniences of travel, are provided, as also an increased number of
outside seats.
The Invention also relates to the providing of the carriage with a mechanical
appliance for guiding the horses, and for pulling them up on an emergency.
The carriage body is provided with side doors as usual, and in rear of the doors
is a transverse range of seats for three persons, with a permanent back for the
two side seats, and a hinged back for the middle seat; this back is hinged to
let down on to the middle seat to form a step and passage-way to get to two
elevated seats behind the transverse range of seats. These elevated seats are
arranged longitudinally, and placed so high that the persons sitting on them face
to face will have their feet on the level, or nearly so, with the transverse seats.
Forward of the side doors there are two seats on the same level with the back
or transverse range of seats, and with an open space between them, so that
two persons may sit face to face if desired to avoid riding backward. This
space between the two seats also forms a passage-way to two longitudinal
elevated seats in front, similar to the two elevated ones in the rear, and they
are in like manner separated from the low seats by partitions, which form
backs to the low seats, if persons choose to ride backwards, and their upper
edges forming arm supports to the elevated seats. The space between these
two partitions is provided with a hinged frame, which closes up this space
when thrown up to protect the persons on the lower seats from the feet of the
persons on the elevated seats, and which, when let down, forms a step leading
to the elevated seats, and in case of necessity, may be used as a sent. The
elevated seats at the back admit of giving to the bottom of the carriage a
gradual curve upward, while the elevated seats in front admit of forming a
boot below them, with side doors for the introduction of luggage. This brings
the weight below the plane of the axles, and aids to concentrate the weight or
the front axle, which is very desirable. At the back of the main body, and
attached thereto, is a depressed coupé body, which communicates with the
inside of the main body by a doorway in the middle of the back, and forming
a continuation of the passage-way between the two elevated back seats, this
passage-way being above the rear axle, while both the main body and the
coupé extend down below that axle. The coupé is provided with a middle

page_text: door in the back, and with seats on each side, the space under one of the seats
being suitably arranged as a water-closet, and the other the receptacle for
baggage, & so forth. From the coupé openings are made through the back of
the main body to spaces under the two back elevated seats, one for storing
baggage, and the other for an extension of one of the side seats for the coupé
to form a child's bed, or if desired, both may be arranged for beds or both for
the reception of baggage, & so forth. The depression of the bottom of the
coupé below the rear axle brings the top thereof so far below the top of the
main body, that it will answer the purpose of a foot board for a range of seats
on top, and at the back edge of the main body. In addition to these seats,
another range of seats may be arranged on the top of the coupé; a framework,
which may be put on and taken off at pleasure by dowel pins, is arranged on
top, and at the front edge of the main body, to form a range of elevated seats
with a foot board. The front of the carriage may be constructed in any usual
manner, and when provided with a coach box, mechanism for reining-in the
horses is to be fitted to the front of the carriage. This mechanism consists of
a vertical shaft mounted in bearings fixed to the framework of the carriage
near the foot board. At its lower end this shaft carries a foot wheel, ribbed
or roughened on its surface, to enable the coachman to turn it in either
direction with his feet, and, to the upper end of this shaft is secured, so as to
turn with it, a wheel, which is formed of two circular plates bolted together, and
carrying between them a ring of friction rollers, and arranged around near
their periphery. In the centre of this wheel and between the two plates, a
pulley is mounted on a short arbor, which is bored out from the under side to
fit and turn on the upper end of the vertical shaft, which extends up through
the under plate a short distance for that purpose. The arbor passes up
through the central hole of the upper plate, and carries a hinged crank handle
fitted with a stop pin on its under face, for taking into a series of holes made
in the upper plate, and thereby locking the pulley which the crank handle is
used to rotate. The two reins from the horses pass one on each side of the wheel
formed by the plates, and against the rollers, and are then guided inwards and
attached to the central pulley. Both reins being thus attached to the pulley,
the coachman can, by turning the crank handle, wind up the reins or let them
out, as may be desired, and thus apply any desired amount of tension equal to
his strength multiplied by the leverage of the crank handle over the pulley
and having given the required amount of tension by inserting the pin of the
handle into one of the holes in the plate, that amount of tension will be main-
tained. To prevent this tension being too rigid for the horse's mouth, a

page_text: portion of each rein is made slack, by attaching thereto a band of vulcanized
india-rubber, which, as it gives to the pull of the horses, will allow the reins
the necessary, amount of extension. The two reins pass each in one of two
guide, loops in the ends of a bar attached to the outer end of an arm mounted
freely on the, vertical shaft. By this arrangement the coachman can in the
most convenient manner direct, the horses with his foot, while with the crank
handle he can apply any desired amount of tension to the reins. Each rein
is provided with a hand strap, by means of which the coachman can at any
time guide and control the horses by hand.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Officé
on the 17th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send, greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the, twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that. I,. the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES,
AND IN APPARATUS FOR GUIDING OR REINING-IN CARRIAGE HORSES," being a com-
munication from abroad by Isaac M. Singer, of New York, in the United States
of, America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should. par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed;
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :—
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent.
relates to the production of a carriage mainly intended for family use, which
shall contain within a small compass a larger number of inside seats than is
commonly found in carriages, the same being so arranged that the persons
sitting on them can conveniently converse. This result is obtained in a
manner that will admit of placing the centre of gravity of the whole structure
sufficiently low for convenience and safety in travelling on common roads, and
ensure symmetry in the general structure, while at the same time inside seats
for children and servants, and suitable receptacles for all the necessary con-
veniences of travel, are provided, as also an increased number of outside seats.
The Invention also relates to the providing of the carriage with a mechanical
appliance for guiding the horses, and for pulling them up on an emergency.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the
improved carriage; Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the same;
Figures 3 and 4, cross-vertical sections taken at the line A, a, of Figure 2, and
looking in opposite directions; and Figure 5 is another cross vertical section
taken at the line B, 6, Figure 2; Figure 6 is a plan of the mechanism for
guiding and reining-in horses; and Figure 7; a central vertical section
thereof; the Figures 6 and 7 being represented on a large scale. The same
letters indicate like parts in all the Figures. a represents the main body of
the carriage with a door b on each side. In rear of the doors there is a
transverse range of seats, c, for three persons, with permanent back d, d, for
the two side seats, and a hinged back e for the middle seat. This back e is
hinged to let down on to the middle seat to form a step and passage-way to
get to two elevated seats, f, f, behind the backs d, d; of the seats c, c. These
elevated soats are arranged longitudinally, and placed so high that the persons
sitting on them face to face will have their feet on the level, or nearly so, with
the seats c, c, whilst the persons sitting on the seats c, c, will be effectually
protected from the feet of those on the elevated seats by the hinged back e
when thrown up, as this back is only let down in the position represented by
dotted lines to give access to and egress from the elevated seats f. The
backs d; d, should be made so high that their upper edges will form arm
supports to the elevated seats. Forward of the side doors there are two

page_text: seats g, g, on the same level with the back seats c, c, and with an open space
between them, so that two persons may sit face to face, if desired, to avoid
riding with their back to the horses. This space between the two seats also
forms a passage-way to two longitudinal elevated seats, i, i, in front, similar to
the two elevated ones in the rear, and they are in like manner separated from
the low seats g, g, by partitions j, j, which form backs to the low seats, (if
persons choose to ride with their backs towards the horses,) their upper edges
forming arm supports to the elevated seats. The space between these two
partitions is provided with a hinged frame 1, which closes up this
thrown up to protect the persons on the lower seats from the feet of the
persons on the elevated seats, and which, when let down in the position repre-
sented by dotted lines, forms a step leading to the elevated seats, and which,
in case of necessity, may be used as a seat.
space
when
The elevated seats at the back admit of giving to the bottom of the
carriage a. gradual curve upward, as at n, while the elevated seats in front
admit of forming a boot o below them, with a door pat each side in the form
of a panel for the introduction of luggage. This brings the weight below the
plane of the axles, and aids to concentrate the weight on the front axle, which
is very desirable. At the back of the main body, and attached thereto, is a
depressed coupé body 9, which communicates with the inside of the main body
by a doorway in the middle of the back, and forming a continuation of the
passage-way between the two elevated back seats, this passage-way being
above the rear axle s, while both the main body and the coupé extend down
below that axle, the rear elevated seats admitting of so elevating the bottom
of the body to make room for the rear axle and its connections above the
main line of the bottom of the main body and of the coupé behind. The
coupé is provided with a middle door t, in the back, and with seats, u, u, on
each side, the space under one of the seats being suitably arranged as a water-
closet, and the other as the receptacle for baggage, &c. From the coupé
openings are made, as at v and w, through the back of the main body to the
spaces under the two back elevated seats, one for storing baggage and the
other for an extension of one of the side seats of the coupé to form a child's
bed, or, if desired, both may be arranged for beds, or both for the reception of
baggage, &c. The depression of the bottom of the coupé below the rear axle
brings the top thereof so far below the top of the main body, that it will
answer the purpose of a foot board for a range of seats on top and at the
back edge of the main body. In addition to these seats, another range of
seats y may be arranged on the top of the coupé, and suitably elevated as

page_text: represented. A framework, which may be put on and taken off at pleasure
by dowel pins, is arranged on top of the main body, and at the front edge
thereof to form a range of elevated seats with a foot board.
The front of the carriage is sustained on the front axle a' by a projecting
framework in the manner represented, or in any other suitable manner
which will admit of the turning of the front axle forward of the main body.
This framework is to be provided in any suitable manner with a seat c¹ for the
coachman, and below this seat the space d' is enclosed with doors at the
sides for the reception of baggage. If the carriage be made with a closed
top, as represented, it should be provided with windows e¹, e¹, at the sides,
sufficiently elevated for the persons sitting on the elevated seats. But it
will be obvious that the general structure is equally well adapted to an open
or a calash top, in either of which cases the seats on top will be dispensed
with. By the arrangement and general construction of the main body and
seats therein, there may be obtained, with a very slight increase of size, ample
room for nine, and, if necessary, ten persons, all so situated that they can con-
verse freely, and none of whom, if limited to nine, will be required to ride with
their backs to the horses, while in the coupé at the back, and in commu-
nication therewith, there will be ample room for children and servants, and all
the conveniences for travel; and when used for travelling, in addition to the
above conveniences, ample provision is made for baggage and seats for several
persons outside.
Referring to the mechanism for guiding and reining-in the horses, f repre-
sents a vertical shaft, the lower end of which is fitted to a step box g¹ in the
framework h¹, to which the foot board of the coachman is attached. To prevent
this shaft from being lifted up, it is grooved out, as represented, to receive the
edge of a cap plate ³, made in two parts and secured to the step box. The
upper end of this shaft is sustained by passing through and turning in a brace
from the framework of the coachman's seat. Near the lower end, this
shaft carries a foot wheel k', placed within a convenient distance of the coach-
man's seat, and the upper surface of the wheel is formed or provided with
radial ribs, or otherwise, so roughened as to enable the coachman to turn it
in either direction with his feet. To the upper end of this shaft is secured, so
as to turn with it, a wheel A, which is formed of two circular plates m³, n', the
upper one n', being secured to the under one by means of screw bolts o¹, or
other suitable means. A series of friction rollers p¹ are mounted between the
two plates m', n; and arranged around near their periphery; two of these
rollers marked p², p³ it is preferred to make of greater diameter than

page_text: the others. In the centre of this wheel, and between the two plates m³, n²,
there is a pulley 9', mounted on a short arbor r¹, which is bored out from
the under side to fit and turn on the upper end of the vertical shaft f¹, which
extends up through the under plate m¹ a short distance for that purpose.
The arbour' passes up through the central hole of the upper plate n', 'and is
held down in place by a collar plate s', made in two parts, and secured to the
top of the plate n². The upper end of the arbor carries a crank handle t¹³,
made in two parts, connected by a hinge u', so that the handle part, which
carries a pin v¹ on its under face, can be elevated or depressed to insert or
draw out this pin from any of a series of holes w¹, made in the upper plate n',
and in a circle near its periphery. The two reins a³, x, from the horses pass
one on each side of the wheel , and they are led round by the rollers p', and
p to the periphery of the pulley 9', to which they are attached. Both reins
being thus attached to the pulley, the coachman can by turning the crank
handle, wind up the reins or let them out, as may be desired, and thus apply
any desired amount of tension, equal to his strength, multiplied by the lever-
age of the crank handle, over the pulley 9'. Having obtained the required
amount of tension, he inserts the pin v² of the handle into one of the holes in
the plate n¹, and thereby maintains that tension. To prevent this tension
being too rigid for the horse's mouth, a portion of each rein is made slack by
attaching thereto a band of vulcanized india-rubber. y'. One end of the
clastic band or spring is connected with the rein by a buckle; or equivalent
means, while the other end is permanently secured to the rein. Thus that
portion of the length of each rein which is between the two points of attach-
ment with the reins is left loose, so that the tension is on the springs that
they may yield, and thus ease off any sudden pull or jerk. The two reins
pass each in one of two guide loops in the ends of a bar z' attached to the outer
end of an arm mounted freely on the shaft f, the bar being provided with lips
a², a², which extend over the edge of the circular plate m¹. In this way the two
reins are properly supported and guided to the périphery of the wheel f¹. As
the reins are connected with the wheel in the manner described, and the
wheel is attached to the shaft f* of the foot wheel k¹, it follows that the coach-
man can in the most convenient manner direct the horses, while with the
crank handle he can, by turning the crank, apply any desired amount of tension
to the reins. Each rein is provided with a hand strap 6², by means of which
the coachman can at any time guide and control the horses by hand.
.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of improvements in the
construction of carriages, and -in 'apparatus for "reining-in carriage horses, as

page_text: communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it to understood
that under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,-
First, the arrangement of parts as herein described, whereby increased
accommodation in carriages is obtained.
And, secondly, the means above described for reining-in carriage horses.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)