IJO BIPEDS AND QUADRIJ^PEDS. 



first-rate axles, that it would be invidious to particu- 

 larize ; but, undoubtedly, to Messrs. Collinge we are 

 indebted for the first that approached perfection. A 

 word or two on their axles, and others on their princi- 

 ple, may, I trust, be allowable here. In these the arm, 

 box, caps, nuts, and screws, fit to a hair's breadth, 

 consequently no rattle or, in more technical term 

 " chattering " is heard ; they run nearly as true as 

 anything in mechanism can do, and the smallest 

 particle of oil is sufficient to prevent friction ; such 

 are the only axles fit for London use. It may be 

 asked, then why not for country use ? this requires 

 a little explanation. In these days we seldom get 

 into a place, in Great Britain, where we are not 

 within a few miles of some town in which some 

 intelligent workmen are not to be found ; formerly 

 this was not the case, and then we should have found 

 that such superior axles as Collinge's were not to be 

 trusted in common blacksmith's or wheelwright's 

 hands ; but why they are so peculiarly adapted to 

 London use is, their perfect steadiness and firm- 

 ness ; the roughest pavement produces no noise from 

 them, which is not the case with ordinary ones. 



