72 BODY BUILDING AND PAINTING. 



nary conditions. A spring of this quality used on a run-about 

 will support little more than the weight of two persons, but 

 all the elasticity in the spring will be brought into play. 

 The less carefully made springs are constructed to resist 

 great weight in case of an emergency, and until that weight 

 has been approached the spring remains comparatively stiff. 



BODY BUILDING. 



Body building requires a more intelligent class of artisans 

 than any other branch of carriage construction. In the exe- 

 cution of this part of the carriage, it is of the greatest impor- 

 tance that the material and labor should be of the very best. 

 The apparently unwarranted discrepancy in the price of two 

 vehicles is frequently due to the body of the cheaper one 

 being inferior in material and workmanship, both of which 

 qualities are to the novice almost entirely concealed by paint. 

 To produce the strength and high finish that are attained in 

 the upper part of the carriage the greatest thoroughness, ac- 

 curacy and delicacy are necessary. The framework is scarfed 

 and made tight at the joints with white lead and further 

 strengthened by wooden brackets, iron plates and braces. 

 The body is then built up with various shaped panels. Those 

 that are to be curved have the side that is to be made convex 

 dampened and the other exposed to some form of heat until 

 bent to the desired shape, which is retained by glue, strips of 

 canvas and braces. 



PAINTING. 



The actual construction being now completed, all the wood- 

 work is smoothed over preparatory to receiving such priming 

 coats as will afford a good foundation for the ultimate shade 

 or tint. For the preservation of the polished surface it is of 



