METAL WORK THE POLE. 77 



avoided. In the application of the striping it is essential 

 that the lines should be uniform in size and the ends finished 

 squarely off. Good varnish is hard, lustrous and free from 

 spots 



METAL WORK. 



All exposed metal work that is used purely for construc- 

 tional purposes is painted. The pole head, however, is more 

 often of steel. The silver or brass mountings should corre- 

 spond with the livery buttons and the furniture of the harness. 

 At the present time there is a tendency to reduce the amount 

 of silver or brass trimmings on all carriages, as, for instance, 

 in the highest types of broughams the only trimmings of 

 silver or brass are the door handles, the strip around the driv- 

 ing seat and the reflectors of the lamps, the latter always 

 being silver plated. In all sporting vehicles, excepting the 

 road coach, such mountings as are subject to friction should 

 be of steel. 



THE POLE. 



A pole should be absolutely free from flaws, and strong 

 enough to withstand any forward pressure with more than a 

 corresponding amount of resistance. Special stress is laid 

 upon the selection of a pole, as any defect of a serious char- 

 acter is likely to result in a fatal accident. In all pair-horse 

 carriages, except when a brake exists, the pole is the sole 

 means of retarding the forward impetus and of controlling 

 the direction of the carriage. Should the pole break in con- 

 sequence of some defect or undue pressure being brought to 

 bear, only a chance obstacle can prevent the splinter-bars 

 from running on the hocks of the horses, in which event a 

 runaway and smash-up are almost inevitable. The same fatal 



