Stage wagons are light horse-drawn or mule-drawn public passenger vehicles often referred to as stagecoaches. Like stagecoaches they made long scheduled trips using stage stations or posts where the horses would be replaced by fresh horses. Stage wagons were intended for use in particularly difficult conditions where standard stagecoaches would be too big and too heavy.
This style of vehicle was often called a mud-coach or mud-wagon. More like wagons than coaches, the sides of the vehicle gave passengers little protection from the dirt of the road. Abbot, Downing named theirs an overland wagon. A brand-name, Celerity, later became popular in place of mud (wagon).[1]
They were employed wherever the poor state of the roads and or demand for services did not warrant the expense of a stagecoach. Most stagecoach routes in the United States' West were opened with them and often operators continued to use these vehicles as stagecoaches.[1]
Structureedit
Mud-wagon
They were not unlike a freight wagon with a high driver's seat, bench seats on the tray, and posts holding up canvas to shelter passengers from the weather.
Those stage wagons with throroughbraces had an undercarriage like those used by a Concord coach but the thoroughbraces were much shorter and mounted to make sure there was much less motion of the body. The thoroughbraces were brought over a bar at each end and attached to another bar above the outer side of each axle.[1]
Stage wagon wheels and their irontires were as much as fifty per cent wider than those of conventional stagecoaches
Developmentedit
Trade card of R Hammond of Tenterden, 1750. Freight 65 miles (105 km) to Southwark at the south end of London Bridge from Tenterden in the Kentish Weald and return, once each week
Wagons carrying freight had been taking passengers in Europe since 1500. This particular stage wagon type was first recorded near the end of the 18th century in use in eastern North America, US and Upper and Lower Canada. It was an unsprung wagon with the driver's bench seat providing room for two more passengers beside him. It might also carry more passenger seats on the tray behind. These extra seats were reached by climbing over the driver's seat. About this time, the Postmaster General Joseph Habersham required the driver's seat to be moved from the tray onto a front wall to improve the driver's vision and by dropping the tray improve the wagon's stability. This created the characteristic stagecoach-like profile of the stage wagon.[1]
Their relatively simple design and construction allowed them to be sold by Abbot, Downing at around half the price of full-size Concord coaches. Their suspension employed thoroughbraces that were much shorter than those used on Concord stagecoaches.[1]
Milton P Henderson of Stockton California made stage wagons of the same style as Abbot, Downing. The firm began in 1869 as a partnership with E G Clark. They can be identified by the finish of the sides of the bodies and the method of attachment of iron stays back and front.
^available in two sizes, 6 or 9 passengers and available with: doors, painted sail duck top, sail duck or enameled curtains, lined in leather, back boot, driver's apron. Abbot, Downing & Co. catalog 1871
Referencesedit
^ abcdefKen Wheeling, They Called Them Mudders. The Carriage Journal, Vol 43 No 5 October 2005
January 01, 1970
stage, wagon, mobile, platforms, used, support, transport, scenery, theater, stages, scenery, wagon, also, stagecoach, concord, coach, light, horse, drawn, mule, drawn, public, passenger, vehicles, often, referred, stagecoaches, like, stagecoaches, they, made,. For the mobile platforms used to support and transport scenery on theater stages see Scenery wagon See also Stagecoach and Concord coach Stage wagons are light horse drawn or mule drawn public passenger vehicles often referred to as stagecoaches Like stagecoaches they made long scheduled trips using stage stations or posts where the horses would be replaced by fresh horses Stage wagons were intended for use in particularly difficult conditions where standard stagecoaches would be too big and too heavy Overland wagon Passengers board the Kendal Fly after Thomas Rowlandson 1816 This style of vehicle was often called a mud coach or mud wagon More like wagons than coaches the sides of the vehicle gave passengers little protection from the dirt of the road Abbot Downing named theirs an overland wagon A brand name Celerity later became popular in place of mud wagon 1 Contents 1 Use 2 Structure 3 Development 4 Some manufacturers 5 Notes 6 ReferencesUse editThey were employed wherever the poor state of the roads and or demand for services did not warrant the expense of a stagecoach Most stagecoach routes in the United States West were opened with them and often operators continued to use these vehicles as stagecoaches 1 Structure edit nbsp Mud wagon They were not unlike a freight wagon with a high driver s seat bench seats on the tray and posts holding up canvas to shelter passengers from the weather Those stage wagons with throroughbraces had an undercarriage like those used by a Concord coach but the thoroughbraces were much shorter and mounted to make sure there was much less motion of the body The thoroughbraces were brought over a bar at each end and attached to another bar above the outer side of each axle 1 Stage wagon wheels and their iron tires were as much as fifty per cent wider than those of conventional stagecoachesDevelopment edit nbsp Trade card of R Hammond of Tenterden 1750 Freight 65 miles 105 km to Southwark at the south end of London Bridge from Tenterden in the Kentish Weald and return once each week Wagons carrying freight had been taking passengers in Europe since 1500 This particular stage wagon type was first recorded near the end of the 18th century in use in eastern North America US and Upper and Lower Canada It was an unsprung wagon with the driver s bench seat providing room for two more passengers beside him It might also carry more passenger seats on the tray behind These extra seats were reached by climbing over the driver s seat About this time the Postmaster General Joseph Habersham required the driver s seat to be moved from the tray onto a front wall to improve the driver s vision and by dropping the tray improve the wagon s stability This created the characteristic stagecoach like profile of the stage wagon 1 Their relatively simple design and construction allowed them to be sold by Abbot Downing at around half the price of full size Concord coaches Their suspension employed thoroughbraces that were much shorter than those used on Concord stagecoaches 1 Some manufacturers editAbbot Downing Concord New Hampshire Milton P Henderson of Stockton California made stage wagons of the same style as Abbot Downing The firm began in 1869 as a partnership with E G Clark They can be identified by the finish of the sides of the bodies and the method of attachment of iron stays back and front P O LeMay and Livy Swan at Yreka California Weisenhorn Carriage in Helena Montana built a vehicle very like an Abbot Downing Australian wagon 1 Celerity was a brand of Stage wagon made in Troy New York Examples of stage wagons nbsp Abbot Downing s Overland Wagona canvas topped stage wagon 1871 note 1 nbsp Goldfield Nevada circa 1905 nbsp Two large Overland stage wagons on the road to Pierre South Dakota in 1889 It is the last official visit of Supreme Court Judges to Deadwood South Dakota and the first Legislative Delegation for the new state of South Dakota nbsp December 28 1890 The last Deadwood stage nbsp December 28 1890 The last Deadwood stageNotes edit available in two sizes 6 or 9 passengers and available with doors painted sail duck top sail duck or enameled curtains lined in leather back boot driver s apron Abbot Downing amp Co catalog 1871References edit a b c d e f Ken Wheeling They Called Them Mudders The Carriage Journal Vol 43 No 5 October 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stage wagon amp oldid 1171182217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
