148 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



will all but lock both hind wheels down hill with a heavy 

 load. My block (fig-. 2) is of soft wood, from twelve to 

 fourteen inches deep, and fits to the wheel with the 

 ordinary break supplied by all London coachbuilders. 

 The small iron block touches vour wheel onlv at one 

 point (fig. 3), and being of iron, also does not bite ; their 

 unserviceableness being evident from the fact that, go- 

 ing down an ordinary hill, the skid has to be used as well. 

 Observe that the wooden blocks are twice as deep as the 

 iron ones, and, as they wear out soon on steep roads, are 

 easily replaced by knocking the old ones up from the 

 bolt and sliding in another from above, when it fixes it- 

 self wedge-like. A great advantage connected with this 

 break is, that the coachman can work it himself easily, as 

 the handle comes forward (for the reasons I have given), 

 and when your wheels are locked is not behind him, but 

 on a line with the centre of the box-seat ; thus allowing 

 him to work it without disturbing" his seat. Here is a 

 great advantage over the ordinary break, all coachmen 

 will allow ; chains with shoe, and hook, and poles too, 

 will break, and this style of block is the only one that 

 will stop your coach. These blocks will last some time, 

 even on hilly roads, in comparison with the small iron 

 ones, as they cover such a large surface. The iron ones 

 require to be "put on " very strongly down an ordinary 

 hill and wear away accordingly. You should be careful 

 that your connecting bar be proportionably stout to the 

 size of your break block.' 



Nimrod suggested a very simple and practicable ex- 

 pedient for the prevention of accidents to coaches when 



