DEVELOPMENT OF THE COACH 



CH. I 



Fig. i, 



two wheels) is the farm wagon of the ancient Ro- 

 mans which still exists, with but little change, in 

 almost all agricultural countries. It consists of a 

 hind axle with its two wheels, to which the perch 

 is attached, and a front axle, with usually somewhat 

 smaller wheels, so connected by a bolt to the front 

 end of the perch as to turn about it (Fig. i). 

 In order to make a rig-id connection between the 



ij. hind axle and the 

 J perch, two pieces, 

 called hounds, or 

 wings, are fast- 

 ened to the perch 

 and to the axle, 

 or, in ruder con- 

 structions, a forked branch of a tree, all in one 

 piece, which rests upon the top of the perch, sup- 

 plies their place. If it is desirable to be able to 

 change the length of the wagon, the perch is made 

 to slide through the hind axle, and has in it a 

 number of holes, through any one of which a bolt 

 will fasten it and the hounds together. The front 

 end of the perch is firmly attached at right angles 

 to a bed or transom, somewhat shorter than the 

 front axle, upon which it rests, being connected with 

 the axle by a bolt (perch-bolt or king-bolt), which 

 permits the axle to turn underneath the bed. The 

 pole or tongue, fastened to the axle, completes the 

 simplest form of wagon. If it is intended for one 

 horse, a pair of shafts takes the place of the pole. 



