78 POLE TOPS AND HOOKS. 



conditions may be brought about by a pole that is too weak 

 for the weight of the carriage. 



POLE TOPS AND POLE HOOKS. 



The pole top, i. e., the metal arms and pole end or socket, 

 to which the pole chains or pieces are attached, is made either 

 stationary or of the swivel pattern. Even for pair-horse work 

 it is desirable to have the arms movable, moderately long 

 and turned slightly back. 



"The best pole chains are those one end of which is fastened to a langet, 

 frequently called a bridle, which slips over the end of the pole back and 

 fits into its place at the end of the pole head, the other end of the pole chain 

 having a long hook. This langet, being continually on the move, keeps the 

 horse's shoulders fresh, whereas the fixed langet, to which the pole chains are 

 fastened by rivets and nuts, gives no play at all, and is also dangerous, inas- 

 much that the nuts and rivets must wear in time." — '^ Drivifig,'" p. gg, Bad- 

 minton Library. 



For broughams, victorias and similar carriages the ends 

 of the arms terminate in oblong eyes, through which the 

 pole pieces are drawn. The pole ends for the non-sporting 

 type of vehicles are frequently japanned and the eyes 

 covered with leather, but such pole ends are more often of 

 burnished steel. 



For the private coach, mail phaeton and other pair-horse 

 vehicles with which pole chains are used, the ends of the 

 arms are made much smaller and hold the rings through 

 which the pole chain runs. 



The metal pole end, when intended for a four-horse 

 vehicle, is provided with a hook extending some distance in 

 front ; the end, terminating in an eye, is carried back over 



