386 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



are all put together with white lead, ground in oil ; 

 and the junction of the panels with the framework is 

 strengthened by small blocks of wood being glued to 

 both, and strips of canvas glued at small distances from 

 one another across the reed of the wood, all over the 

 inside of the panels, reaching from the framework on 

 the one side to the framework on the other. The 

 curvature is given to the panels by holding to the 

 fire, or to a piece of iron made red hot, the side which 

 is required to be hollow, and by applying water to the 

 opposite side, by which the one side is contracted and 

 the other side is expanded. When brought by this 

 means to the desired form, they are fixed into grooves, 

 or laid down with glue upon the framework until dry, 

 and then cleaned off; the door panels besides this are 

 secured with plates of brass, attached firmly to the 

 framework with screws. The utmost attention should 

 be paid to use the best seasoned wood, as the smallest 

 shrinking of any of the joints, or contraction of any of 

 the panels after being painted, injures the appearance, 

 although not always materially the security of the 

 carriage. 



There is a great variety of smith's work necessary 

 in making a carriage, and as much dependence is 

 put upon the iron-work, it must be not only of the 

 very best quality, but worked in the best possible 

 manner ; this being the case, ordinary smiths are 

 not, without a good deal of practice, fit to be em- 

 ployed by coach-makers, except in the coarser parts. 

 In order to obtain as much perfection as possible 

 in the execution of this branch of the work, it is 

 subdivided into particular departments, some work- 

 men being constantly employed in making springs, 

 others at the axle-trees, others at the steps, some at 

 the iron-work upon the wheels, some at the different 



