CH. Ill 



19 



CHAPTER III 



CARRIAGE-PART 



The carriage-part of a coach (see Plate III.) con- 

 sists of the axles, the perch (sometimes called the 

 reach), the futchells, the bed or transom, and certain 

 minor parts, constituting, with the wheels, a com- 

 plete vehicle, upon which the body is supported by 

 springs. 



The perch is of wood, mortised at its rear end 

 into the hind axle ; its connection with the axle is 

 strengthened by the hounds, also of wood, which are 

 mortised into the axle, and bound to the perch by 

 bands. 



To insure steadiness in the running- of a coach, 

 the length of the perch (that is, the distance be- 

 tween the axles) should be not less than six feet, 

 which was the minimum formerly allowed by the 

 English Post-Office authorities for the mail-coaches. 

 Six feet four inches is not any too long ; a short- 

 coupled coach will rock unpleasantly and little is 

 gained by diminishing the length. 



To the front end of the perch is attached, at right 

 angles, a bed or transom. This transom rests upon 

 the top of the front axle and is connected with it by 

 the king-bolt or perch-bolt, about which the front 

 axle turns. The under side of the transom and the 



